English Reference
Idiom idiom

smell what someone is stepping in


Alternative form of pick up what someone is putting down.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

I explain the rules, and he finally smells what I am stepping in.

CONTEXTUAL

She gave me a long look during the meeting, and I think I finally smell what she is stepping in.

COMPLEX

Although the instructions were initially cryptic, the team eventually grasped the underlying strategy and began to smell what the manager was stepping in.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    ain't what it used to was

    Is not what it used to be; (expressing nostalgia).

  2. 02

    as if someone owns the place

    Alternative form of like someone owns the place.

  3. 03

    baby step

    A small effort made towards the completion of a much larger task.

  4. 04

    beat someone round the ears

    To beat (a person) with blows about the head.

  5. 05

    bless someone with

    To give or bestow, as a gift from God.

  6. 06

    bring someone to their knees

    To defeat and make submit to orders.

  7. 07

    call someone every name in the book

    To call someone many abusive names.

  8. 08

    call someone everything but a child of God

    To call someone many abusive names.

Last updated August 10, 2026