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renifler

to sniff

verb ruh-nee-FLEH Rare

Also means

to sniffle

Usage Note

Renifler describes the physical act of sniffing (as a dog sniffs a trail) or sniffling from a cold. It can also be used figuratively: renifler une bonne affaire means to sniff out a good deal. The noun renifleur colloquially describes a snooper or someone who pries, similar to the English 'nosy parker'.

Examples

"Le chien renifle les traces de l'inconnu."

Natural Translation

The dog sniffs the stranger's tracks.

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