smell of the lamp



smell of the lamp

To show the signs of arduous, overwrought effort, and to lack freshness or vitality as a result. (Said especially of academic or literary work.) His thesis is meticulously crafted, but the paragraphs are so dry and calculated, and the paper lacks any flourish or style. As a whole, it rather smells of the lamp to me.
See also: lamp, of, smell

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
DamirDAH-meer (Croatian, Serbian)Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Bedivere-Welsh Mythology, Arthurian Romance
Ekundayo-Western African, Yoruba
Columbanus-Late Roman
Aphrodisia-Ancient Greek
Kjellfrid-Norwegian