пахнет паленым

• ПАХНЕТ/ЗАПАХЛО ЖАРЕНЫМ highly coll

[VP; impers]

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1. sth. promises profit:

- it (sth.) smells of money;

- there's money to be made.

     ♦ У этого спекулянта большие связи, он всегда знает, где пахнет жареным. This speculator has good connections and always knows where there's money to be made.

2. Also: ПАХНЕТ/ЗАПАХЛО ПАЛЕНЫМ highly coll danger from or punishment for some wrongdoing, illegal actions etc is imminent:

- one smells trouble (coming);

- there's danger in the air;

- it looks like they've got me (you etc );

- it looks like the jig is up.

     ♦ "Так, - сказал Губошлёп, не утрачивая своей загадочной весёлости. - Что-то палёным пахнет" (Шукшин 1). "Damn," said Fat Lip, without losing his enigmatic gaiety. "It looks like they've got us" (1a).