whiff

Related to whiff: whiff test, WIFF

a whiff of (something)

1. Literally, a faint odor or scent. Yuck, I just caught a whiff of dog poop. Did you step in some on the way home? I think I'm getting a whiff of garlic from the broth—is that correct?
2. An extremely small portion or sample of something desirable. Health insurance, a company phone, and a pension plan? Man, I didn't get a whiff of benefits like those when I was working for the company. He didn't patent the design, so when it went on to make millions of dollars, he didn't get a whiff of that money.
3. A very small amount of information, especially just enough to give someone an indication or inkling of something. Make sure you don't let the boss get a whiff of what you're trying to do, or you'll get fired so fast your head will spin! Detective Matheson says he's caught a whiff of something going down at the docks tomorrow night. Sounds like it could be a major drug deal.
See also: of, whiff

catch a whiff of (something)

1. Literally, to experience a faint odor or scent. Yuck, I just caught a whiff of dog poop. Did you step in some on the way home? I think I'm catching a whiff of garlic from the broth—is that correct?
2. To receive an extremely small portion or sample of something desirable. Health insurance, a company phone, and a pension plan? Man, I didn't catch a whiff of benefits like those when I was working for the company. He didn't patent the design, so he won't catch a whiff of the money they're making on it.
3. To receive a very small amount of information, especially just enough to give someone an indication or inkling of something. Make sure you don't let the boss catch a whiff of what you're trying to do, or you'll get fired so fast your head will spin! Detective Matheson says he's caught a whiff of something going down at the docks tomorrow night. Sounds like it could be a major drug deal.
See also: catch, of, whiff

get a whiff of (something)

1. Literally, to experience a faint odor or scent. Yuck, I just got a whiff of dog poop. Did anyone step in any on the way home? I think I'm getting a whiff of garlic from the broth—is that correct?
2. To receive an extremely small portion or sample of something desirable. Health insurance, a company phone, and a pension plan? Man, I didn't get a whiff of benefits like those when I was working for the company. He didn't patent the design, so he won't get a whiff of the money they're making on it.
3. To receive a very small amount of information, especially just enough to give someone an indication or inkling of something. Make sure you don't let the boss get a whiff of what you're trying to do, or you'll get fired so fast your head will spin! Detective Matheson says he's gotten a whiff of something going down at the docks tomorrow night. Sounds like it could be a major drug deal.
See also: get, of, whiff

not get a whiff of (something)

1. To not get even the smallest inclination or amount of information about something. Make sure you don't let the boss get a whiff of what you're trying to do, or you'll get fired so fast your head will spin! A: "Detective Matheson, have you gotten any leads about this supposed drug deal going down tomorrow night?" B: "No, sir, I haven't gotten a whiff of anything happening tomorrow."
2. To not get even the smallest portion or sample of something desirable. Health insurance, a company phone, and a pension plan? Man, I didn't get a whiff of benefits like those when I was working for that company. He didn't patent the design, so when it went on to make millions of dollars, he didn't get a whiff of that money.
See also: get, not, of, whiff
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*whiff of something

 
1. . Lit. the smell or odor of something. (*Typically: get ~; catch ~; have ~; take ~; give someone ~.) Did you get a whiff of the turkey roasting? Yummy. I caught a whiff of something rather unpleasant in the attic. I think there is a dead mouse up there.
2. . Fig. a bit of knowledge of something. (*Typically: get ~; catch ~; give someone ~.) The boss got a whiff of the problems in the accounting department. No one will get a whiff of your trouble with the police. I'll see to that.
See also: of, whiff
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

whiff-sniffer

and wiff-sniffer
n. a prohibitionist; someone always alert for the smell of alcohol on someone’s breath. (Prohibition.) No wiff-sniffer is going to tell me what to do.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • a whiff of (something)
  • whiff of
  • get a whiff of (something)
  • catch a whiff of (something)
  • not get a whiff of (something)
  • dog-log
  • wiff-sniffer
  • poop (one's) pants
  • scent out
  • odour of sanctity
References in periodicals archive
President Duterte has repeatedly warned government officials that he would fire them even with just a "whiff" of corruption.
Palace to let Ombudsman probe Cam's alleged corruption
'Could it be that Secretary Andanar and the PCOO people just want a whiff of winter; thus, the sudden urge to go into this information caravan?
Kiko to PCOO: Use funds judiciously
Duterte has fired officials for frequent travels and other "whiffs" of corruption but the Palace did not pursue cases against them.
Palace: Duterte has 'deep bench' of senatorial bets to choose from
The dirty deed done, we sped away, car windows wide open in drizzly rain, yet the whiff persisted.
Frozen with fear by stench from within
There's the fungal whiff of damp shrubbery with a Pinot
Overtones of undergrowth.. SHOPPING; DRINK
And if they have to put up with the whiff of something not entirely pleasant in order to keep it safe and secure, well, the DUP have strong stomachs.
DUP might suit May but it's a bad fit and could cost UK dearly
IMAGINE the whiff of mothballs, the waft of a suit that sees the light of day only for weddings, funerals - and elections.
DUP cut from extreme cloth
The Birkenhead-born star tells the ECHO he never wanted to cause any trouble when he had a quick whiff of helium from a balloon live on air.
I didn't know balloon gas was a danger says Paul
They blamed "a distinct whiff of laziness among men." Plus a possible whiff of something else.
Men come clean about dirty undies
TOKYO -- The whiff of a Whopper made hundreds of customers hungry for a Burger King special Wednesday -- ''Flame Grilled'' cologne.
Aaah, the 'spicy' scent of a Burger King store
Summary: Frankfurt: The world's auto industry said it believes it can smell the whiff of recovery ...
Carmakers expect auto demand to recover soon
Scientists say blood and oxygen create the white light visits from realm but reconnected one, in whiff condition had improved so rapidly that she was able to be released from the hospital within weeks without a trace of cancer in her body.
I believe there is light at the end of tunnel; Scientists try to explain near-death experience as a huge surge of electricity
The company says the promotion "challenges men to take a whiff of what a double dose of confidence smells like."
Head & Shoulders adds to roster
* Grateful Dead T-shirt, pounds 32.99, www.truffleshuffle.co.uk 3PERFECT PONG YOU might think this embarrassingly-named fragrance - go on, you try walking into a shop and asking for a bottle of Fat Electrician - would conjure up the distasteful image of a builder's jeans cleavage upon first whiff. Luckily, you get nothing of the sort, this notoriously unorthodox French perfume house having instead come up with a mix of hot asphalt, vanilla, patchouli and vetiver to create a most beguiling whiff.
Big boys' toys; This week: the art of going out. The middle-aged Nathan Bevan digs deep to remember those more carefree days when anyone still gave a monkey's about how he scrubbed up and what clothes he was wearing. Ah, youth!