odor



in bad odor

In a state in which one is the subject of another's displeasure or ire. I've been in bad odor with my next door neighbor ever since my dog destroyed her garden. Unless you like being in bad odor with your teachers, you should stop disrupting their classes!
See also: bad, odor

in good odor

In a pleasant or favorable relationship with someone. I've been in good odor with my next door neighbor ever since I brought her some of my homemade cookies. Your sister is in good odor with her teachers because she always completes her homework on time.
See also: good, odor

be in bad odor with

To be the target of another's anger or unhappiness. I've been in bad odor with Tiffany ever since she found out that I started that rumor about her. You will be in bad odor with the boss if you keep coming into work late.
See also: bad, odor

odor of sanctity

Fig. an atmosphere of excessive holiness or piety. I hate their house. There's such an odor of sanctity with Bibles and holy pictures everywhere. The huge, medieval Gothic cathedral had a distinct odor of sanctity.
See also: odor, of

be in bad odour with somebody

  (British & Australian old-fashioned) also be in bad odor with somebody (American old-fashioned)
if you are in bad odour with someone, they are angry with you because of something you have done (often + with ) He's in bad odour with his business partners for having pulled out of the deal at the last minute.
See also: bad, odour

odor of sanctity

Exaggerated or hypocritical piety, an assumption of moral superiority, as in This candidate puts off some voters with his odor of sanctity. This expression, originating in the medieval idea that the dead body of a saintly individual gives off a sweet smell, was used to describe saintliness in the mid-1700s. Today it is generally used ironically.
See also: odor, of

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Shet-Biblical Hebrew
Zlatan-Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Slovene
Gennadygye-NAH-dee, gee-NAH-deeRussian
MalcomMAL-kəmEnglish
Nonna-Russian
Liborius-Late Roman