put (an animal) off the/someone's scent
phrase
: to cause (an animal) to lose the smell of an animal or person it has been following by sensing the animal's or person's smell
We swam across the stream in order to put the dog off our scent.
—often used figurativelyHe was being investigated by federal officials but he somehow managed to put them off the/his scent.
Cite this Entry
“Put (an animal) off the/someone's scent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20%28an%20animal%29%20off%20the%2Fsomeone%27s%20scent. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
