the smell of the lamp
the smell of the lamp
Signs of arduous, overwrought effort, with an absence of freshness or vitality as a result. (Said especially of academic or literary work.) His thesis is meticulously crafted, but the paragraphs are so dry and calculated, and the paper lacks any flourish or style. As a whole, it has the smell of the lamp about it.
See also: lamp, of, smell
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- smell of the lamp
- get off on the right foot
- get/start off on the right/wrong foot
- on the right foot, get off
- too much like hard work
- (one's) nerves are shot
- make hard work of (something)
- make hard work of something
- go about to (do something)
- have too much on plate