lingua house

TM

Innovation in Learning

A A VOCABULARY

Smell
Lesson code: N49B-3L6B-F51I-5 UPPER INTERMEDIATE +

1 Warm-up
What is your favourite smell? Does it remind you of something or someone?

2 Adjectives to describe smells

Study the adjectives and put them into the correct category below.

aromatic disgusting enticing exotic heavenly

overpowering pleasant repulsive stinky vile

Describe good smells:

Describe bad smells:

3 What does it smell like?

Study the underlined adjectives for smells and match them to the things that they describe.

1. It smells very floral. a. a burning tree

2. It's a bit musty. b. a damp room
3. It has a smoky smell. c. an old bookcase
4. It's kind of woody. d. newly washed towels
5. There's quite a fresh smell. e. old milk
6. It's absolutely rancid. f. roses
7. It smells off. g. rotting vegetables

With a partner, think of one other smell that you can describe with each adjective.
LE

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 1/3

AB

Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

O
c
Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT
 lingua house
TM
Smell
Innovation in Learning

A A A A VOCABULARY

4 Smell verbs
Match the verbs to their definitions.

1. reek a. to breathe air into your lungs

2. sniff b. to enjoy an experience (e.g. a smell) slowly
3. inhale c. to find the source of something
4. trace d. to have a very strong and unpleasant smell
5. savour e. to take short breaths of air with your nose to smell something
closely

Now make up your own sentences using the words.

5 Similes for the noun `smell'

The words below are synonyms for the word smell. Choose a word for each of the gaps in the sentences
below. There is more than one possible answer for each gap.

fragrance odour whiff aroma

stench perfume stink

1. The of coffee came very strongly from the kitchen.

2. The of sewage coming from the drains was really unpleasant.
3. Evie got a of the salty air which reminded her of holidays on the coast.
4. Nadine caught a of smoke from his clothes which told her he had been smoking again.
5. The of summer was in the air and it made everyone much happier.
6. Rebeka could smell the of roses from the other side of the garden. LE

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 2/3

AB

Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

O
c
Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT
 lingua house
TM
Smell
Innovation in Learning

A A A A VOCABULARY

6 Smell idioms
Match the idioms to their definitions.

1. I'm sure Ian will come out smelling of roses after the investigation. He has done nothing wrong.
2. This criminal really knows how to throw somebody off the scent. The footprints go in every
direction.
3. I smell something fishy . Alex can't have finished the game in that time. He must have cheated.
4. Your trainers stink to high heaven! Please put them outside the front door.
5. Andreas never takes time to stop and smell the roses. He's always in a hurry.
6. Francis is going to make a stink about how bad the facilities at the sports centre are.

a. complain about something

b. give someone false information so that they do not discover the truth
c. look good after a situation that made you look bad
d. slow down and appreciate life
e. smell very bad
f. think that there is something dishonest about a situation

7 Describing smells
With a partner take turns to describe different smells from the list. Use words from the worksheet to
help you. You can add extra details.

old books plastic burning the seaside the grass after the rain
blue cheese public toilets bacon frying fish
LE

You can review this worksheet online at www.linguahouse.com/ex 3/3

AB

Review your flashcards at least 3-5 times a week for 20 minutes to keep the material fresh in your memory.
PI

O
c
Linguahouse.com OC
P H OT