smell what someone is stepping in
English
[edit]Verb
[edit]smell what someone is stepping in (third-person singular simple present smells what someone is stepping in, present participle smelling what someone is stepping in, simple past and past participle smelled what someone was stepping in or smelt what someone was stepping in)
- (idiomatic, humorous) Alternative form of pick up what someone is putting down.
- 2021 February 5, Stan Pinato, ACES High, FriesenPress, →ISBN, page 277:
- “I have seen it before. I'll get the carriage ready and meet you two at the paddock,” says Wilson. ... “There were a lot of British sailors on the Hougoumont and you know how sailor's talk. ... You smell what I'm stepping in?