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to reach one's nostrils
01
(of odors or smells) to travel through the air and being detected by someone's sense of smell
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "reach one's nostrils" and when to use it?
The idiom "reach one's nostrils" is derived from the literal function of the nostrils as the openings in the nose through which we breathe and detect smells. The phrase is used figuratively to describe the act of perceiving or sensing something, often with a negative connotation.
Examples
The stench of the garbage reached my nostrils as soon as I entered the room.
The tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread reached Jane's nostrils, making her mouth water.
