smell test

Noun

smell test (plural smell tests)

1. An assessment of a subject's ability to detect and distinguish odors.
   • Although scientists have yet to pin down any biological basis for cigarette smokers' impaired performance on the smell test, Doty says he suspects that certain chemicals in smoke . . . damage the olfactory receptor cells in the nose.1990, K. A. Fackelmann, “Smokers Suffer from Impaired Smell”, in Science News, volume 137, number 9, page 134

   Synonyms:

   nose test

2. An inspection of an object by smelling it, as for cleanliness of clothing or freshness of food.
   • I give the smell test to many foods when I shop.2006 October 25, Olivia Wu, “It’s a Hairy Crab Extravaganza”, in San Francisco Chronicle, archived from the original on 28 Feb 2014

   Synonyms:

   nose test

3. (figuratively) An informal check of whether an idea or proposal is credible, ethical, etc., using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
   • It just doesn't pass the smell test. It just creates too many opportunities for cutting corners, doing unethical things and basically not telling the truth.1994 May 6, Todd Purdum, “New Yorkers in Congress at war with a lawyer”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 03 Feb 2023
   • These aren’t the first megadeals cut by politicians that do not pass the smell test, but nobody has been swindled like the Yankee Stadium community.2009 January 25, Harvey Araton, “Tear down stadium and build up the Bronx”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022