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Definition

To sense that one has an advantage over an adversary or rival.

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In Context

  • "Later he intended to continue his goading of Neil. He could smell blood now; if only he could get the man to fall apart in one of their clubs."
  • "Smelling blood in the economic meltdown, the lower house of parliament, or Duma, took the offensive, calling for Yeltsin to resign."
  • "The Pistons, once they smelled blood, got more aggressive and the Spurs simply ran out of gas."
  • "When buyers do turn up nowadays, she says, “they smell blood in the water and routinely offer 15 to 20 percent below the asking price.”"
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See Also

  • go for the jugular
  • have the upper hand
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Related Idioms

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The rewarding sense of having succeeded.

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To be regarded as appealing, virtuous, or respectable; to be untainted…
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