smoke
The grey, black, or white gas you see when something is on fire.
The visible mixture of gases and tiny particles produced when something burns.
To breathe in and out the gas from burning a cigarette, pipe, or similar thing.
To draw in and breathe out the fumes of burning tobacco or similar substances.
A time when someone smokes a cigarette, cigar, or similar thing.
An instance of inhaling and exhaling the fumes of burning tobacco or similar substances.
To give off smoke while burning slowly without fire.
To produce visible gases and particles as a result of slow burning without flame.
- Base: smoke
- Plural: smoke, smokes
- Base: smoke
- 3rd Person Singular: smokes
- Present Participle: smoking
- Past: smoked
go up in smoke
1fail or disappear completely
To end suddenly in failure or be destroyed so that nothing is left.
- All our plans went up in smoke when the funding was cut.
- The deal went up in smoke after the argument.
smoke out
1force out by pressure or smoke
To make someone leave a hiding place by using smoke or other strong methods.
- The police smoked out the suspect from the attic.
- They tried to smoke out the animals from their holes.
where there's smoke there's fire
1rumors may have truth behind them
If people are talking about something bad, there is probably some truth to it.
- I don't know if the rumors are true, but where there's smoke there's fire.
- People are saying he's leaving; where there's smoke there's fire.
smoking gun
1clear evidence of guilt or crime
Strong proof that someone has done something bad or illegal.
- The email was the smoking gun that proved his involvement.
- The email was the smoking gun that proved the CEO knew about the fraud.
- Investigators found no smoking gun linking her to the crime.
- Investigators are still searching for a smoking gun in the case.
smoking gun
1clear proof of wrongdoing
A fact or object that clearly proves something.
- The emails were the smoking gun in the investigation.
- Police searched the apartment but found no smoking gun.
- For critics, the leaked recording was a smoking gun.
- The video was the smoking gun.
- They found no smoking gun.
- The email was clear proof.
smoke like a chimney
1smoke tobacco very often
To smoke cigarettes or cigars all the time.
- Ever since he lost his job, he’s been smoking like a chimney.
- My uncle smokes like a chimney—he goes through two packs a day.
- He used to smoke like a chimney before he finally quit last year.
- My uncle used to smoke like a chimney before he quit.
- She used to smoke like a chimney before she quit last year.
- My grandfather smoked like a chimney for decades and now has serious lung problems.
- She only drinks socially, but her boyfriend smokes like a chimney.