He bought a pet tiger; what was he smoking?
what was someone smoking
idiomUsed to express surprise about someone's uncharacteristic or wacky, offbeat past actions.
Origin
disputed originSuggesting the smoking of mind-altering drugs.
When I saw the strange design for the new office building, I wondered what the architect was smoking.
Looking back at the absurd business decisions made by the board last year, one cannot help but wonder what they were smoking.
- 01
ain't what it used to was
Is not what it used to be; (expressing nostalgia).
- 02
as if someone owns the place
Alternative form of like someone owns the place.
- 03
beat someone round the ears
To beat (a person) with blows about the head.
- 04
bless someone with
To give or bestow, as a gift from God.
- 05
bring someone to their knees
To defeat and make submit to orders.
- 06
call someone every name in the book
To call someone many abusive names.
- 07
call someone everything but a child of God
To call someone many abusive names.
- 08
catch someone napping
To take advantage of someone's inattention.