whiff
C1Informal
Definition
Meaning
A brief, slight smell or puff of air, or a very faint indication of something.
To fail spectacularly at something (especially in sports) or to detect something by scent; a fleeting instance or trace; a small amount of something intangible (like suspicion).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to a small, often pleasant or neutral smell, but can be unpleasant in context. As a verb for failure (to strike the ball), it is highly specific to sports like baseball, golf, or cricket.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In sports contexts, 'whiff' as a verb (meaning to miss the ball) is more common in American English (baseball). In British English, the noun form for a smell and the verb 'to get a whiff of' are primary.
Connotations
Slightly more negative in American sports contexts (failure). Slightly more neutral/olfactory-focused in British contexts.
Frequency
More frequent as a sports term in North America.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] whiff (on sth)[V] whiff sth[N] a whiff of NVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “whiff of cordite (suggestion of conflict)”
- “to whiff it (to fail badly)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The deal had a whiff of corruption about it.'
Academic
Rare; possible in historical or sensory descriptions.
Everyday
Common for smells: 'I caught a whiff of baking bread.'
Technical
In sports analytics, specifically baseball: 'His whiff rate increased.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The batsman whiffed completely and was bowled.
- The dog whiffed the air suspiciously.
American English
- The pitcher struck him out; he whiffed on three pitches.
- He totally whiffed on that job interview.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- A whiffy rubbish bin needs emptying.
- (Informal/rare)
American English
- (Informal/rare) It was a whiffy situation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I got a whiff of perfume.
- A whiff of fresh air came through the window.
- He caught a whiff of smoke and called the fire brigade.
- There's a whiff of autumn in the air.
- The report carried a distinct whiff of bias.
- The striker whiffed his shot, sending the ball over the bar.
- The government's proposal was dismissed as being filled with populist whiff.
- Investors got a whiff of trouble and began selling their shares.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
WHIFF sounds like a quick 'whiff' of air you 'whiff' through your nose.
Conceptual Metaphor
SMELL IS INFORMATION ('I got a whiff of their plans'); FAILURE IS A MISSED CONNECTION ('He whiffed on the easy question').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'запах' which is any smell; 'whiff' is brief/faint. 'Whiff' as failure has no direct equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'whiff' for a strong, persistent odor.
- Confusing 'whiff' (air/smell) with 'whistle' (sound).
Practice
Quiz
In American sports journalism, 'he whiffed' most likely means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can mean to detect by smell ('The dog whiffed the trail') or, informally, to fail to hit something, especially in sports ('He whiffed the ball').
It depends on context. A 'whiff of perfume' is neutral/pleasant. A 'whiff of scandal' is negative. 'To whiff' in sports is negative (failure).
'Whiff' implies a brief, often faint and momentary smell. 'Scent' is more sustained and can be stronger, often associated with a specific source or trail.
No, it is primarily informal. Its use in formal writing is usually metaphorical ('a whiff of rebellion').