sniff

To take a short breath through your nose, often to smell something or because you have a cold.

• The dog sniffed my shoes.
• She sniffed the milk to check it.
• He kept sniffing because he had a cold.

How to use it: sniff at something (The puppy sniffed at the unfamiliar food.)

Similar words: smell

Common phrases: sniff something, sniff the air, sniff at something

To treat something as unimportant or not worth accepting.

• Do not sniff at their offer.
• She sniffed at the idea of taking the bus.
• A free holiday is nothing to sniff at.

How to use it: sniff at something (He sniffed at the modest reward.); nothing to sniff at (An extra hundred pounds is nothing to sniff at.)

Similar words: dismiss, scorn

Common phrases: sniff at something, sniff at an offer

To say something while breathing sharply through your nose, showing sadness or dislike.

• “I miss him,” she sniffed.
• “That is hardly impressive,” he sniffed.
• The upset child sniffed that nobody liked her.

How to use it: sniff that… (She sniffed that she wanted to go home.)

Similar words: say tearfully

Common phrases: sniff a reply, sniff in disgust

A short breath taken through the nose, often to smell something.

• Give the milk a sniff.
• The dog took a sniff of my bag.
• I heard a loud sniff behind me.

How to use it: sniff of something (She took a quick sniff of the perfume.)

Similar words: snuffle

Common phrases: a quick sniff, give something a sniff, a loud sniff