smoke out

verb

1. to subject to smoke in order to drive out of hiding
2. to bring into the open; expose to the public

   they smoked out the plot

Idioms and Phrases

Expose, reveal, bring to public view, as in Reporters thrive on smoking out a scandal . This expression alludes to driving a person or animal out of a hiding place by filling it with smoke. [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

Otis blew smoke out of his nose, admiring his own muscular arms.

From Salon

It was a buggy summer day, and the group of four began building a fire in a barrel to smoke out the mosquitoes.

From Seattle Times

Humans, in turn, chop open the trees where the nests are located and smoke out the furious bees.

From Science Magazine

Rain and wind will help push the smoke out beginning Sunday night, said Kirby Cook, meteorologist for the National Weather Service Seattle.

From Seattle Times

“The pattern will be turning more westerly as we go into tomorrow, so that should help push some of the smoke out of the area.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• catch
• come upon
• design
• detect
• determine
• devise
• disclose
• explore
• hear
• identify
• invent
• learn
• locate
• notice
• observe
• realize
• recognize
• reveal
• see
• spot