smacks
v.v. to have a strong suggestion or taste of something, usually something bad. You use this when a situation feels suspicious or dishonest.
v. to possess a distinct flavor, trace, or suggestion of something, typically an undesirable quality. Often used in the third-person singular with the preposition 'of'.
The whole deal smacks of corruption.
The sudden change in the company's policy smacks of desperation following the recent drop in stock prices.
While the official report claimed the error was purely technical, the timing of the announcement smacks of a deliberate attempt to bury the story during a holiday weekend.
Typically used in the third-person singular ('smacks') and followed by the preposition 'of'.
The plan smacks corruptionThe plan smacks of corruptionWhen meaning 'to suggest something bad', the verb must be followed by the preposition 'of'.