When someone says, “I smell a rat“, they’re expressing that they feel something is wrong or suspicious. It’s like saying they have a gut feeling that something is not right, similar to a detective sensing a clue.
Here are two examples in sentences:
Example 1:
“I smell a rat,” Sarah said when she noticed all the lights on in the empty office building.
Example 2:
Mike told his friend, “I smell a rat. Why would the door be left open?”
Now, let’s see two examples in a conversation:
Example 3:
Emma: Hi, Tom! You seem concerned about the new proposal.
Tom: Yeah, Emma, I smell a rat. The numbers just don’t add up.
Example 4:
Lucy: Hey, John! Why are you so suspicious of the new neighbors?
John: Well, Lucy, I smell a rat. They always have unusual visitors at odd hours.
So, when someone says “I smell a rat“, they’re communicating their suspicion or doubt about a situation. It’s a way to express that something doesn’t feel right or seems untrustworthy.
