whiff
noun /wɪf/
/wɪf/
[usually singular]- whiff (of something) a smell, especially one that you only smell for a short time
- a whiff of cigar smoke
- He caught a whiff of perfume as he leaned towards her.
Extra Examples- I caught the whiff of Scotch on his breath.
- She took a deep whiff of his aftershave.
- He caught a whiff of her perfume as she passed.
- She can't bear the slightest whiff of tobacco smoke.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- faint
- slight
- strong
- …
- catch
- detect
- get
- …
- whiff of
- at the faintest whiff of something
- at the first whiff of something
- at the merest whiff of something
- …
- whiff (of something) a slight sign or feeling of something
- a whiff of danger
Extra Examples- The unmistakable whiff of electoral blackmail could be detected.
- The proposal had the whiff of a hoax about it.
- Journalists caught a whiff of scandal and pursued the actress relentlessly.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- faint
- slight
- strong
- …
- catch
- detect
- get
- …
- whiff of
- at the faintest whiff of something
- at the first whiff of something
- at the merest whiff of something
- …
- (North American English) (in golf or baseball) an unsuccessful attempt to hit the ballTopics Sports: ball and racket sportsc2
Word Originlate 16th cent. (originally in the senses ‘gust of wind’ and ‘inhalation of tobacco smoke’, also, as a verb, ‘blow with a slight gust’): imitative.