What Does "Smell of the Lamp" Mean?
"Smell of the lamp" is an English idiom describing the evidence of hard work or dedication, especially when it comes to intellectual pursuits or creative endeavors.Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "smell of the lamp" used in a sentence:- His groundbreaking research paper bears the smell of the lamp, with countless hours of study and analysis evident.
- The author's latest novel is a literary masterpiece that clearly carries the smell of the lamp.
- In the world of art, the greatest masterpieces often have the smell of the lamp—hours of painstaking work and dedication behind them.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Smell of the Lamp" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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