fail the smell test

fail the smell test

To be morally questionable, unacceptable, or untrustworthy. The new pro-drilling bill that's being put through Congress certainly fails the smell test, and many are suspicious that Big Oil has been responsible for its inception.
See also: fail, smell, test
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • pass the smell test
  • smell test
  • stay on the straight and narrow
  • stay to the straight and narrow
  • keep on the straight and narrow
  • keep to the straight and narrow
  • keep to, stay on, etc. the straight and narrow
  • be on the straight and narrow
  • on the straight and narrow
  • jiggery-pokery
References in periodicals archive
The Supreme Court's anointment of lawyers with authority to evade the constitutional billing constraint will fail the smell test in the nostrils of the voting public, especially that portion already cynical of "judicial imperialism." Many people, including our justices, are rightly alarmed by "conservative" daggers aimed at "judicial activism" that protects individuals against government more fully than critics think the constitution requires.
Med mal fees
This technique would not go very far if the charities themselves put up a big stop sign and said, "No way!" But apparently some charities are so hungry for donations that they will countenance transactions that fail the smell test. These charities really should be ashamed of themselves.
It's time to ban IOLI