Smell to heaven Meaning in English
expression
Definition
This expression means to have a very strong and unpleasant smell, usually so bad that it’s hard to ignore. It is usually used in a humorous or dramatic way.
Usage & Nuances
'Smell to heaven' is informal and most often used humorously or for dramatic effect, often about garbage, rotten food, or dirty laundry. Not common in formal writing. Variants: 'stinks to high heaven'. English usually says 'something smells to heaven', not just 'to heaven' alone.
Example Sentences
The garbage in the kitchen smells to heaven.
basic
After three days in the sun, the fish smelled to heaven.
basic
The dirty socks smell to heaven after gym class.
basic
Wow, your shoes smell to heaven! Did you step in something?
natural
That cheese looked okay, but it smelled to heaven when I opened the fridge.
natural
Don’t even open that container—it smells to heaven inside!
natural