People have different ways to talk about smoking. Sometimes, instead of saying something directly, they use special phrases. These phrases are called idioms. Idioms make language more fun and colorful. They help us talk about smoking in a way that sounds creative or even funny.
In this article, you’ll learn idioms that people use when they talk about smoking. Some idioms describe how people smoke. Others tell what smoking feels like or how it affects people. These idioms can help you understand how language works in real life. Let’s take a closer look at these smoking-related idioms and what they really mean.
Idioms About Smoking
1. Smoke like a chimney
Meaning: To smoke a lot, especially cigarettes.
Example Sentences:
- Uncle Joe smokes like a chimney; he always has a cigarette.
- My neighbor smokes like a chimney and never stops.
Other ways to say: Chain-smoke, puff away
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase compares a heavy smoker to a chimney that constantly releases smoke.
Usage: Describing someone who smokes frequently.
2. Go up in smoke
Meaning: To fail or be destroyed.
Example Sentences:
- Our plans for the picnic went up in smoke when it started raining.
- His dream of becoming a singer went up in smoke after the audition.
Other ways to say: Fall apart, come to nothing
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom suggests something disappearing like smoke.
Usage: When plans or efforts fail suddenly.
3. Blow smoke
Meaning: To say things that aren’t true to impress someone.
Example Sentences:
- Don’t believe him; he’s just blowing smoke.
- She was blowing smoke about her grades.
Other ways to say: Exaggerate, boast
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of creating a smoke screen to hide the truth.
Usage: When someone is not being honest or is bragging.
4. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire
Meaning: If there are signs of a problem, the problem likely exists.
Example Sentences:
- People say he’s cheating; where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
- The rumors about the company might be true; where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Other ways to say: No smoke without fire, rumors have a basis
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests that smoke indicates a fire, just as rumors suggest truth.
Usage: When discussing rumors or suspicions.
5. Smoke and mirrors
Meaning: Something that hides the truth.
Example Sentences:
- The magician’s tricks were just smoke and mirrors.
- The company’s promises were all smoke and mirrors.
Other ways to say: Deception, trickery
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to illusions used by magicians to deceive.
Usage: When something is meant to mislead or distract.
7. Catch someone smoking
Meaning: To see someone doing something they shouldn’t.
Example Sentences:
- The teacher caught him smoking behind the gym.
- He was caught smoking in the bathroom at school.
Other ways to say: Catch in the act, catch red-handed
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in schools where students hide to smoke.
Usage: Used when someone is caught doing something wrong.
8. Smokescreen
Meaning: Something that hides the real reason or truth.
Example Sentences:
- The big sale was just a smokescreen to distract from the price hike.
- Her kind words were a smokescreen for her real feelings.
Other ways to say: Cover-up, distraction
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from war, where smoke was used to hide troop movements.
Usage: Used when someone hides their real actions.
9. Smoking gun
Meaning: Clear evidence of a crime or problem.
Example Sentences:
- The video was the smoking gun that showed he was guilty.
- They found the smoking gun in the thief’s backpack.
Other ways to say: Proof, clear sign
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from a gun still smoking after being fired.
Usage: Used in crime stories or when someone is clearly guilty.
10. Smoke you out
Meaning: To force someone to show themselves or tell the truth.
Example Sentences:
- The police smoked the thief out of his hiding place.
- She asked so many questions, she smoked out the real story.
Other ways to say: Expose, bring out
Fun Fact/Origin: Based on the idea of using smoke to flush animals or people from hiding.
Usage: When someone is forced to reveal the truth.
11. Like smoke through a keyhole
Meaning: To disappear quickly or escape easily.
Example Sentences:
- He slipped away like smoke through a keyhole.
- The cat ran off like smoke through a keyhole.
Other ways to say: Vanish, escape quickly
Fun Fact/Origin: Based on how smoke fits through small spaces.
Usage: Describing someone who disappears fast.
12. Smoke away
Meaning: To smoke without stopping or with no concern.
Example Sentences:
- He sat on the porch and smoked away the afternoon.
- They smoked away without a care in the world.
Other ways to say: Puff away, keep smoking
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows how some people smoke without limits.
Usage: Describes someone who smokes a lot, often calmly.
13. Like a house on fire (with smoking)
Meaning: To get along very well or do something very quickly.
Example Sentences:
- They were smoking and talking like a house on fire.
- The project moved like a house on fire after the team got started.
Other ways to say: Rapidly, with energy
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how fast a house burns once it starts.
Usage: Used to describe speed or a strong bond.
14. Light up
Meaning: To start smoking a cigarette.
Example Sentences:
- He stepped outside to light up.
- She lit up as soon as the break started.
Other ways to say: Start smoking, spark up
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to lighting a cigarette.
Usage: Describing someone beginning to smoke.
15. Smoke-filled room
Meaning: A place where secret decisions are made.
Example Sentences:
- The deal was made in a smoke-filled room.
- They met in a smoke-filled room to decide on the winner.
Other ways to say: Behind-the-scenes meeting, secret planning
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to old political meetings often held in smoky rooms.
Usage: Describes secret or private meetings.
16. Smoke oneself out
Meaning: To make oneself leave or stop because of their own actions.
Example Sentences:
- He smoked himself out by making too many mistakes.
- She talked so much she smoked herself out of the group.
Other ways to say: Self-destruct, wear out
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hunting or flushing prey.
Usage: Used when someone causes their own problems.
17. Smoke rising
Meaning: Trouble or conflict is coming.
Example Sentences:
- You could see the smoke rising in their argument.
- There’s smoke rising between the two teams.
Other ways to say: Tension building, trouble ahead
Fun Fact/Origin: Based on smoke seen before a fire.
Usage: Used when problems are starting to show.
18. Blowing smoke rings
Meaning: Doing something without a real purpose.
Example Sentences:
- He spent the afternoon blowing smoke rings and doing nothing.
- She was just blowing smoke rings while the others worked.
Other ways to say: Wasting time, goofing off
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to making rings with cigarette smoke.
Usage: Describes idle or lazy actions.
19. Smoke out the truth
Meaning: To find out the truth through effort.
Example Sentences:
- The reporter smoked out the truth from witnesses.
- We need to smoke out the truth behind the story.
Other ways to say: Dig up facts, reveal the truth
Fun Fact/Origin: Based on flushing hidden things using smoke.
Usage: Used when seeking the truth.
20. Choke on smoke
Meaning: To struggle with something one caused.
Example Sentences:
- He choked on smoke after making a bad decision.
- The team choked on their own smoke after boasting too much.
Other ways to say: Face the results, suffer consequences
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from real choking on smoke.
Usage: When someone suffers from their own actions.
21. Like smoke in the wind
Meaning: Something that disappears quickly or fades away.
Example Sentences:
- His chance at winning was like smoke in the wind.
- Their friendship faded like smoke in the wind.
Other ways to say: Gone fast, vanished quickly
Fun Fact/Origin: Smoke in wind moves fast and is hard to catch.
Usage: Used when something fades or disappears suddenly.
22. Smoke signal
Meaning: A sign or message, especially one that is indirect.
Example Sentences:
- Her silence was like a smoke signal that something was wrong.
- They gave smoke signals that they were unhappy.
Other ways to say: Indirect message, hint
Fun Fact/Origin: Used by Native American tribes to send messages.
Usage: When a hint or sign is used to show feelings.
23. Hot smoke
Meaning: Dangerous or serious trouble.
Example Sentences:
- He got into hot smoke with the teacher after lying.
- They knew they were in hot smoke after breaking the rule.
Other ways to say: In trouble, caught up
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to smoke from fire—something risky.
Usage: Used to show someone is in trouble.
24. Thick with smoke
Meaning: Full of confusion or mystery.
Example Sentences:
- The story was thick with smoke and lies.
- Her plans were thick with smoke—no one knew her real goal.
Other ways to say: Hard to understand, unclear
Fun Fact/Origin: Smoke makes it hard to see clearly.
Usage: Describes confusing situations.
25. Smoky trail
Meaning: A trace left behind, usually of something bad.
Example Sentences:
- He left a smoky trail of broken rules.
- The thief left a smoky trail of clues.
Other ways to say: A sign left, trace behind
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from trails of smoke left by fire or people.
Usage: When actions leave a clear sign or effect.
26. Smoke-filled brain
Meaning: A confused or unclear mind.
Example Sentences:
- After studying too much, her brain felt smoke-filled.
- He sat quietly, his brain smoky with stress.
Other ways to say: Foggy mind, overwhelmed
Fun Fact/Origin: Smoke makes vision or thought unclear.
Usage: Used to describe confusion or mental overload.
27. Like blowing smoke in the wind
Meaning: Doing something that won’t have any effect.
Example Sentences:
- Telling him to stop was like blowing smoke in the wind.
- Arguing with her was like blowing smoke in the wind.
Other ways to say: Useless, won’t change anything
Fun Fact/Origin: Smoke in the wind can’t be controlled.
Usage: Used when efforts are pointless.
28. Smoking barrel
Meaning: Proof of something just done, usually bad.
Example Sentences:
- The stolen phone was the smoking barrel of the crime.
- Her text was the smoking barrel of her lie.
Other ways to say: Clear proof, hard evidence
Fun Fact/Origin: A gun still smoking after firing proves use.
Usage: Used when something is proven without doubt.
29. Clear the smoke
Meaning: To make things clear or explain confusion.
Example Sentences:
- The teacher cleared the smoke about the test rules.
- He cleared the smoke by telling the truth.
Other ways to say: Make clear, explain
Fun Fact/Origin: Smoke hides things; clearing it helps see better.
Usage: When someone explains or fixes confusion.
30. The smoke has settled
Meaning: Things have calmed down after a problem.
Example Sentences:
- After the fight, the smoke settled and they talked.
- Now that the smoke has settled, we can fix things.
Other ways to say: Things are calm, situation is over
Fun Fact/Origin: After fire or action, smoke settles when it ends.
Usage: Used after chaos ends.
31. Catch smoke
Meaning: Try something impossible.
Example Sentences:
- Trying to win now is like trying to catch smoke.
- You can’t catch smoke—just give up already.
Other ways to say: Hopeless effort, no chance
Fun Fact/Origin: Smoke can’t be held in your hands.
Usage: Describes impossible tasks.
32. Smoke rolling
Meaning: Things are starting or heating up.
Example Sentences:
- Let’s get the smoke rolling and start the show!
- The smoke is rolling—the match is about to begin.
Other ways to say: Get going, kick-off
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to fire starting, smoke begins to roll.
Usage: When something is about to start.
33. Into the smoke
Meaning: Facing something dangerous or unknown.
Example Sentences:
- The team ran into the smoke, ready to play hard.
- He stepped into the smoke to face the truth.
Other ways to say: Into trouble, into the unknown
Fun Fact/Origin: Firefighters go “into the smoke” to fight fires.
Usage: Describes brave or risky action.
34. Smoke in the air
Meaning: There’s tension or something suspicious.
Example Sentences:
- There’s smoke in the air—something feels off.
- The room was silent, and smoke was in the air.
Other ways to say: Suspicion, tension
Fun Fact/Origin: Smoke signals danger or something hidden.
Usage: Used when something doesn’t feel right.
35. Under a cloud of smoke
Meaning: Surrounded by trouble or suspicion.
Example Sentences:
- He left the game under a cloud of smoke.
- The teacher watched them under a cloud of smoke.
Other ways to say: Under suspicion, in trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: A cloud of smoke makes it hard to see clearly.
Usage: Describes someone surrounded by doubt or trouble.
Quiz: Idioms About Smoking
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “smoke like a chimney” mean?
A) To light candles often
B) To smoke a lot
C) To clean the fireplace
2. If someone says “go up in smoke,” what happened?
A) Something disappeared or failed
B) They cleaned up well
C) It got very bright
3. What does “blow smoke” mean?
A) To blow out birthday candles
B) To say something to show off that isn’t true
C) To warm your hands
4. What is a “smoking gun”?
A) A toy
B) Clear proof of something
C) A campfire stick
5. What does “smoke and mirrors” mean?
A) Real magic
B) A place with lots of mirrors
C) Something that hides the truth
6. If someone says “put that in your pipe and smoke it,” what do they mean?
A) To cook something
B) To accept what they just said
C) To leave quickly
7. What does it mean to “catch someone smoking”?
A) Find someone with a snack
B) See someone doing something wrong
C) Give someone a break
8. What does “smoke you out” mean?
A) To tell someone to leave
B) To trick someone
C) To make someone tell the truth or show themselves
9. If someone “lit up,” what did they do?
A) Started smoking
B) Turned on a flashlight
C) Smiled brightly
10. What does “like smoke in the wind” mean?
A) Very fast and noisy
B) Something disappears quickly
C) Making a loud sound
11. What is a “smokescreen”?
A) A dirty window
B) A fun game
C) Something used to hide the truth
12. If someone says “the smoke has settled,” what does it mean?
A) They need more firewood
B) Things have calmed down
C) They are making s’mores
Answer Key
- B) To smoke a lot
- A) Something disappeared or failed
- B) To say something to show off that isn’t true
- B) Clear proof of something
- C) Something that hides the truth
- B) To accept what they just said
- B) See someone doing something wrong
- C) To make someone tell the truth or show themselves
- A) Started smoking
- B) Something disappears quickly
- C) Something used to hide the truth
- B) Things have calmed down
Wrapping Up
Idioms help make language fun and easier to understand. The ones about smoking can show how people feel, what they do, or even describe a tricky situation. Some of them are serious, while others are just sayings people use in daily life.
By learning these 35 idioms, you now know more ways to talk and write about smoking without always saying the word. These idioms help you understand more than just smoking—they show how language can be creative and meaningful.
