scent out

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Explanation of "scent out"

Definition:
The phrase "scent out" means to recognize or detect something by smelling it. It often refers to animals, especially dogs, that can find things like food, people, or even trouble using their sense of smell.

Usage Instructions:

• Form: "scent out" is a phrasal verb, which means it consists of a verb ("scent") and a particle ("out").
• Subject: It can be used with animals or people who have a strong ability to smell and detect things.
• Tense: You can use it in different tenses, like "scented out" for past or "scenting out" for present continuous.

Examples:

1. Basic Example: "The dog can scent out hidden drugs."
2. In a Sentence: "She was able to scent out the trouble before it started."

Advanced Usage:

• In a figurative sense: You can also use "scent out" to describe someone who can detect problems or issues that are not immediately obvious. For example, "The manager can scent out potential issues in the project."

Word Variants:

• Scent (noun): The smell of something.
  • Example: "The scent of flowers filled the air."
• Scented (adjective): Describing something that has a pleasant smell.
  • Example: "She bought scented candles for her room."

Different Meanings:

• Scent (verb): To give off a smell or to perceive a smell.
  • Example: "The skunk scented the air."

Synonyms:

• Detect
• Discern
• Find out
• Sniff out

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Sniff out: This is a similar phrase that means to discover or detect something by using your sense of smell or intuition.
  • Example: "He managed to sniff out the truth behind the rumors."

Summary:

"Scent out" is a useful phrase to describe the act of detecting something through smell, often used with animals like dogs but can also be applied to people who have a strong intuition or awareness of situations.

Academic

Verb

1. recognize or detect by or as if by smelling
   • He can smell out trouble

Synonyms

• sniff out
• smell out
• nose out