Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
smell a fox en · X
Meanings
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(obsolete) To be suspicious of deception.
Lang.: A ghost ? Where, my lord ?—I smell a fox.
1611, The Atheist's Tragedy, page 316:Aſter the Porcupine had liſtened a while to his deceitful Arguments, he made this Reply to the enſnaring Beguiler, Methinks I ſmell a Fox, keep at a Diſtance; your eloquent Flouriſhes have made no Impreſſions upon me.
1754, Aesop's Fables: with his life, and morals and remarks. Fitted for the meanest capacities., page 24:[…]when, hearing a little titter in the neighbouring ſchool room, he began to ſmell a fox, and dreſſing him-ſelf again, with a malignant determination of better note for the future […]
1766, The fool of quality; or, the history of Henry Earl of Moreland. By Mr. Brooke. A new edition, greatly altered and improved., page 183:
Synonyms
smell a rat