sniff at + object
Briefly smell something
Sniff at can describe taking a short smell of something.
He sniffed at the soup before tasting it.
Sniff at or sniff for?
Sniff at usually means smelling something briefly or showing contempt. Sniff for means trying to detect or find something by smell.
Quick answer
When to use sniff at and sniff for
Use sniff at for smelling something briefly or reacting with disapproval. Use sniff for when searching for a smell, substance, or sign by using the nose.
The dog sniffed at the suitcase.
Customs officers sniffed for illegal drugs.
She sniffed at his suggestion with obvious disdain.
Customs officers sniffed for illegal drugs.
She sniffed at his suggestion with obvious disdain.
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
sniff at + idea/comment
Show disapproval or contempt
Sniff at is also used figuratively to mean treating something as unimportant or inferior.
Some investors sniffed at the proposal.
sniff for + substance/person
Search by smell
Sniff for means trying to detect something through smell.
The rescue dog sniffed for survivors under the snow.
sniff around + place
Investigate or search
Sniff around is another common expression for investigating a place or situation.
Reporters were sniffing around the company headquarters.
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
sniff at
The cat sniffed at the new blanket.
smell something briefly or react with disapproval
sniff for
Dogs were sniffing for explosives.
search for something by smell
sniff in
She sniffed in the kitchen.
in is a place adjunct here, not a fixed verb-preposition combination
sniff around
The detective sniffed around the office.
investigate or search informally
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using sniff at for searching
Use sniff for when the meaning is to detect or locate something.
✕ The dog sniffed at drugs in the bag. ✓ The dog sniffed for drugs in the bag.Confusing literal and figurative meanings
Sniff at can express contempt, not only physical smelling.
✕ She sniffed for his idea. ✓ She sniffed at his idea.Adding an unnecessary preposition
Sniff can also be used directly with an object.
✕ He sniffed at the flower perfume deeply. ✓ He sniffed the flower perfume deeply.Quick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. Customs officers trained dogs to ___ illegal substances.
2. She ___ the milk to check whether it was fresh.
3. Some critics ___ the director's early work.
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Frequently asked questions
Can sniff at mean disrespect?
Yes. Sniff at often means treating something as unimportant or beneath consideration.
Is sniff for only about physical smells?
Usually yes. It refers to trying to detect something through smell.
Can I say sniff in?
Only when in introduces a place, such as sniffing in the kitchen. It is not a standard fixed combination like sniff at or sniff for.
Related preposition guides
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