# the nose knows

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/the-nose-knows
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Despite the addressee's belief that the speaker was unaware of something, the speaker, in fact, was already aware.

## Examples

- You think I did not notice, but the nose knows.
- You tried to hide the broken vase, but the nose knows what really happened.
- Though he maintained a facade of complete innocence, she simply smiled, knowing that the nose knows the truth behind his elaborate deception.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.