a nose for something Definition

nose
noun

1. The projecting organ above the mouth, with which one smells and breathes.

Thesaurus: nostrils, nasal passages, olfactory organ, proboscis, beak (slang), snout (slang), schnozzle (US slang).
2. An animal's snout or muzzle.
3. The sense of smell.

Example: He has a good nose
4. A scent or aroma, esp a wine's bouquet.
5. The front or projecting part of anything, eg a motor vehicle.
6. The nose as a symbol of inquisitiveness or interference.

Example: poke one's nose into something

verb nosed, nosing

tr & intr
1. To move carefully forward.

Example: nosed the car out of the yard
2. To detect something by smelling.
3. Said of an animal: to sniff at something or nuzzle it.

Derivative: nosed
adj

Note: in compounds
Having a nose of a specified type.
Example: red-nosed

Derivative: noseless
adj

Derivative: nosing
noun

Idiom: a nose for something

A faculty for detecting or recognizing something.
Example: He has a nose for a bargain

Idiom: by a nose

By a narrow margin.
Thesaurus: almost, barely, just.

Idiom: cut off one's nose to spite one's face

To act from resentment in a way that can only cause injury to oneself.

Idiom: get up someone's nose

colloq
To annoy them.

Idiom: keep one's nose clean

colloq
To avoid doing anything that might get one into trouble.

Idiom: look down one's nose at something or someone (turn up one's nose at something or someone)

colloq
To show disdain for it or them.
Thesaurus: scorn, disdain, snub.

Idiom: nose to tail

Said of cars: in a slow-moving queue with the front of one almost touching the rear of the one in front.

Idiom: not see beyond the end of one's nose (further than the end of one's nose)

Not to see the long-term consequences of one's actions.

Idiom: on the nose

Said of bets made in horse-racing: to win only, ie not to come second, etc.

( Amer)
Exactly.

(ustral)
colloq
Unsavoury; offensive.

Idiom: pay through the nose

colloq
To pay an exorbitant price.
Thesaurus: pay, pay heavily.

Idiom: put someone's nose out of joint

colloq
To affront them.

Idiom: under one's nose (under one's very nose)

In full view and very obviously in front of one; close at hand.
Thesaurus: obvious, visible, in plain sight, at one's fingertips.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon nosu.

Phrasal Verb: nose about or around

To pry.

Phrasal Verb: nose something out

To discover it by prying; to track it down.