11 English Expressions Related to Smoke and Smoking

smoke and smoking idioms

So you want to learn some smoke and smoking idioms, do you? Great, you’re in the right place!

Let’s get started.

First, read the story below—’ A Life Sentence for Smoking Like a Chimney ‘.

If you fully understand it, there’s no need to scroll further – you know all there is to know.

But if the story leaves you scratching your head like a bewildered chimp, scroll down, and we’ll reveal the meaning of all the expressions related to the words smoke and smoking.

A Life Sentence for Smoking Like a Chimney

She thought she could lose herself in the big smoke, but after six long weeks of intense police investigations, they finally managed to smoke her out.

Armed guards led her into the court in handcuffs. Holy smoke! I’d heard she was good-looking but didn’t realise just how much – she was absolutely smokin’!

She took the witness stand and pleaded her innocence, but everyone knew it was just smoke and mirrors.

However, often presenting weak evidence, it looked at times like the prosecution’s case would go up in smoke.

Eventually, the smoking gun that proved, without doubt, she really had been blowing smoke throughout the trial was her DNA found on the numerous cigarette butts scattered about the scene of the crime.

Ironically, she’d always known that smoking like a chimney was bad for her but never realised it would get her into this kind of trouble.

The judge sentenced her to life in prison.

However, defiant to the end, she flipped her middle finger at him and shouted, “Put that in your pipe and smoke it!”

Do You Need to Scroll Down?

As mentioned, if you understood this short story, your English is already up to scratch, and you’re done; there’s no need to read on.

But if you feel you’ve just read some weird cryptic tale and have no idea what the meaning of all the idioms is, scroll down, and everything will be revealed.

Once you’ve learned all the smoke and smoking expressions, return to the short story and read it again.

Smoke & Smoking – YouTube Video

1. Blow smoke

blow smoke - Smoke and smoking idioms

To give misleading or exaggerated information or say things that are not true to make yourself or something you are involved with seem better than it is.

Example
He said he thought we were the best Hong Kong language school he’d ever attended, but I think he was just blowing smoke.

2. Smoke like a chimney

smoke like a chimney - Smoke and smoking idiom

To smoke tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, etc.) heavily.

Example
My brother has smoked like a chimney all his life, but the doctors told him he has to give up for the sake of his health.

3. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

put that in your pipe and smoke it - smoke and smoking idiom

Also – Stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

A rude or unsympathetic way of telling someone that they must accept what you have just said, even if they do not like it.

Example
I’m sick of you treating me like dirt so you can get someone else to run your business for you. I resign! Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

4. There’s no smoke without fire

no smoke without fire

also – Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

There is usually some truth behind every rumour, or if something appears wrong, it probably is.

Example
You can’t win! Even if you are proven innocent, people will always look at you with suspicion, as they believe there is no smoke without fire.

5. Holy smoke!

holy smoke

A way of expressing surprise.

Example:
Holy smoke! Look at the size of that dog!

6. Smoke somebody out

smoke somebody out

Also – to smoke something out

To hunt somebody down and force them out of hiding or search for someone or something.

Example:

1. The killer was very hard to trace, but after a lot of hard work, the police managed to smoke him out and arrest him.

2. We will need a special team for this job. Let’s contact the top recruitment agencies to smoke out some highly qualified professionals.

7. The big smoke

the big smoke

Also – the smoke

It refers to big cities like London, New York, Hong Kong, or Tokyo.

Example
I’m so bored with working in this small country town! Let’s go to the big smoke this weekend and have some fun.

8. Smoking gun

smoking gun

Information which proves beyond doubt that someone is guilty of committing a crime.

Example:

The small traces of blood found on her dress proved to be the smoking gun that proved she definitely was at the scene of the crime.

9. Smoke and mirrors

smoke and mirrors

Something said or done to deceive or confuse.

Example:

His resume looked good, and his presentation certainly sounded convincing, but something about him led me to believe it was all just smoke and mirrors.

10. Go up in smoke

go up in smoke

To actually catch fire and burn completely.

Or, if a plan or a job goes up in smoke, it is spoiled or ruined completely.

Example:

When they hired a new architect, his amateur designs for the new house went up in smoke. However, he had the last laugh because as soon as the building was finished, there was an arson attack, and the whole place went up in smoke, literally!