1. smell a rat - Verb
2. smell a rat - Phrase
smell a rat (third-person singular simple present smells a rat, present participle smelling a rat, simple past and past participle smelt a rat or smelled a rat)
(idiomatic) To sense something suspicious.
However, local villagers smell a rat in the work. Source: Internet
"I smell a rat with orange hair," she added. Source: Internet