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Glite Dictionary
to pass the smell test

to pass the smell test

3 7.8
Seem honest and believable when people check it
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : ser aceptable
  • I'd appreciate it if you would use your real name, since your question does not pass the smell test.

There's a lot of things he wrote and said about himself that just don't pass the smell test.

Examples

  • If what you see doesn't pass the smell test, walk away.

    Blog text (12)

  • Besides myself, who can say whether this passes the smell test for them?

    Blog text (28)

  • Their story does not pass the smell test," he said.

    Blog text (12)

  • Does this pass the smell test?

    Blog text (25)

  • You know, you having a job doesn't pass the smell test.

    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)

  • There are stories aplenty on offer, but do they pass the smell test?

    Blog text (21)

  • "A lot of things don't pass the smell test," she continues.

    Blog text (12)

  • Even on the surface, this assumption doesn't pass the smell test.

    Blog text (25)

  • The claims from the union about these gigantic raises for executives don't pass the smell test.

    Blog text (10)

  • The new policy must pass the smell test to gain the trust of the employees.

Synonyms

to pass muster
vsto pass the smell test
11 6.6

To be seen as good enough after a check

is judged acceptable by ordinary people or simple checks rather than formal standards
to hold up to scrutiny
vsto pass the smell test
1 5.3

To still be correct when people look at it carefully

is seen as acceptable by common judgment or quick checks rather than deep examination

How Credible

airtight
29 5.9
to pass the smell test
  • Informal
3 7.8
dubious
90 6.5
suspicious
300 2.7

Surface Forms

pass the smell test infinitive
passed the smell test past
passed the smell test past participle
passing the smell test present participle
passes the smell test third person singular

Morphology

pass + the + smell + test

The components 'pass' and 'test' are literal, but 'smell' is used metaphorically to mean 'seem suspicious' or 'give an intuitive impression', so the overall sense (being judged credible by an informal check) is only partly derivable from the words. Because the metaphorical use of 'smell' in this evaluative sense is not fully predictable and may not be shared cross-linguistically, a B1 learner who knows the constituents might guess the general idea but would likely need exposure to confirm the exact meaning.

Etymology

Pass the smell test may come from the simple act of checking food with your nose: you smell something to test if it is fresh. So if a plan or story 'passes the smell test', it seems acceptable and not suspicious.