From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsmell trouble/danger etcsmell trouble/danger etcPREDICTto feel that something is going to happen, especially something bad Miller had smelled trouble the moment she said who she was. → smell
Examples from the Corpus
smell trouble/danger etc• You seem to smell danger and taste excitement and, as television has no smell or taste, that is powerful evocation.• Müller had smelled trouble the moment she said who she was. 