smoke out
To expose (something or somebody).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The police hope to smoke out the thief.”
“The detective used clever questions to smoke out the person who stole the money.”
“The journalist published the controversial report specifically to smoke out the corrupt officials hiding within the department.”
- 01
end in smoke
To be destroyed or ruined; to go up in smoke.
- 02
go up in smoke
To be completely ruined, devastated, or reduced to nothingness.
- 03
holy smoke
An expression of astonishment.
- 04
pass the bottle of smoke
To acquiesce in some falsehood; to make pretence.
- 05
put that in your pipe and smoke it
Used after stating something surprising or undesired, in order to emphasize its truth.
- 06
smoke like a chimney
To smoke tobacco frequently.
- 07
smoke one's own dope
To believe one's own lies or posturings.
- 08
smoke signal
An indirect message or indication, especially concerning a future event.
Last updated August 10, 2026