sniff around
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Investigate; inspect; look for information.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
If he moved a muscle, they would both be in DEEP TROUBLE.
“It must have been a bird, Mr Big,” said Dad.
“Ruddy big bird,” muttered the little man. “Now we have to get out of here before the fuzz start sniffing around. Fingers, get the Rolls resprayed and change the number plates in case they trace i
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “sniff around” mean?
Investigate; inspect; look for information.
Is “sniff around” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.