5 VERB If someone sniffs a substance such as glue, they deliberately breathe in the substance or the gases from it as a drug. □ [V n] He felt light-headed, as if he'd sniffed glue. ● sniff|er (sniffers ) N‑COUNT □ …teenage glue sniffers.
6 N‑SING If you get a sniff of something, you learn or guess that it might be happening or might be near. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] You know what they'll be like if they get a sniff of a murder investigation. □ Have the Press got a sniff yet? □ [+ of ] Then, at the first sniff of danger, he was back at his post.
▸ sniff around in BRIT, also use sniff about , sniff round 1 PHRASAL VERB If a person is sniffing around , they are trying to find out information about something, especially information that someone else does not want known. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] But really, what harm could it possibly do to pop down there and just sniff around? □ [V P n] A couple of plain-clothes men had been sniffing round his apartment.
2 PHRASAL VERB [no passive] If a person or organization is sniffing around someone, they are trying to get them, for example as a lover, employee, or client. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] When I went away, I was convinced that other men would be sniffing round her.
▸ sniff out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you sniff out something, you discover it after some searching. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] …journalists who are trained to sniff out sensation or scandal. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB When a dog used by a group such as the police sniffs out hidden explosives or drugs, it finds them using its sense of smell. □ [V P n] A police dog, trained to sniff out explosives, found evidence of a bomb in the apartment. [Also V n P ]
▸ sniff round → see sniff around
sni ff|er dog (sniffer dogs ) N‑COUNT A sniffer dog is a dog used by the police or army to find explosives or drugs by their smell.
snif|fle /sn I f ə l/ (sniffles , sniffling , sniffled )
1 VERB If you sniffle , you keep sniffing, usually because you are crying or have a cold. □ [V ] 'Please don't yell at me.' She began to sniffle.
2 N‑COUNT A sniffle is a slight cold. You can also say that someone has the sniffles . [INFORMAL ]
snif|fy /sn I fi/ (sniffier , sniffiest ) ADJ Someone who is sniffy about something does not think it is of high quality, perhaps unfairly. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ about ] Some people are a bit sniffy about television.
snif|ter /sn I ftə r / (snifters )
1 N‑COUNT A snifter is a small amount of an alcoholic drink. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A snifter is a bowl-shaped glass used for drinking brandy. [AM ]
snig|ger /sn I gə r / (sniggers , sniggering , sniggered ) VERB If someone sniggers , they laugh quietly in a disrespectful way, for example at something rude or unkind. □ [V ] Suddenly, three schoolkids sitting near me started sniggering. [Also V about n] ● N‑COUNT Snigger is also a noun. □ …trying to suppress a snigger.
snip /sn I p/ (snips , snipping , snipped )
1 VERB If you snip something, or if you snip at or through something, you cut it quickly using sharp scissors. □ [V adv/prep] He has now begun to snip away at the piece of paper. □ [V n] He snipped a length of new bandage and placed it around Peter's chest.
2 N‑SING If you say that something is a snip , you mean that it is very good value. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ The beautifully made briefcase is a snip at £74.25.
snipe /sna I p/ (snipes , sniping , sniped )
1 VERB If someone snipes at you, they criticize you. □ [V + at ] The Spanish media were still sniping at the British press yesterday. ● snip|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ This leaves him vulnerable to sniping from within his own party.
2 VERB To snipe at someone means to shoot at them from a hidden position. □ [V + at ] Gunmen have repeatedly sniped at U.S. Army positions. □ [V -ing] A member of the security forces was killed in a sniping incident.
snip|er /sna I pə r / (snipers ) N‑COUNT A sniper is someone who shoots at people from a hidden position.
snip|pet /sn I p I t/ (snippets ) N‑COUNT A snippet of something is a small piece of it. □ [+ of ] …snippets of popular classical music.
snitch /sn I tʃ/ (snitches , snitching , snitched )
1 VERB To snitch on a person means to tell someone in authority that the person has done something bad or wrong. [INFORMAL ] □ [V + on ] She felt like a fifth-grader who had snitched on a classmate. [Also V ]
2 N‑COUNT A snitch is a person who snitches on other people. [INFORMAL ]
sniv|el /sn I v ə l/ (snivels , snivelling , snivelled ) in AM, use sniveling , sniveled VERB If someone is snivelling , they are crying or sniffing in a way that irritates you. □ [V ] Billy started to snivel. His mother smacked his hand.
snob /snɒ b/ (snobs )