what was someone smoking: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  USUKWorldwideinformalcolloquialderogatoryMachine
  • A rhetorical question expressing disbelief or scorn at someone's poor judgment, foolish action, or unexpected decision; implying that their behavior seemed irrational or out of touch with common sense.

  Examples

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  • What was he smoking when he decided to invest all his savings in that risky startup?

    ¿Qué estaría pensando cuando decidió invertir todos sus ahorros en esa startup arriesgada?

  • I mean, what was she smoking to quit her stable job without any backup plan?

    ¿En serio, qué le pasó por la cabeza para dejar su trabajo estable sin ningún plan de respaldo?

  • They asked him what he was smoking after his bizarre comments in the meeting.

    Le preguntaron qué estaba fumando después de sus comentarios extraños en la reunión.

• 2.

  USUKWorldwideinformalliteralMachine
  • A literal question asking which substance a person had been smoking, typically asked when suspecting intoxication or impairment from drugs.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Do you know what he was smoking before the party? He seemed extremely out of it.

    ¿Sabes qué estaba fumando antes de la fiesta? Parecía completamente ido.

  • The police asked the suspect what he was smoking after finding drug paraphernalia in his car.

    La policía le preguntó al sospechoso qué estaba fumando después de encontrar parafernalia de drogas en su coche.

  • When I saw her behavior, I wondered aloud, 'What was she smoking earlier today?'

    Cuando vi su comportamiento, me pregunté en voz alta: '¿Qué habrá fumado antes hoy?'

  • Can you tell me what he was smoking? His speech was incoherent and slurred.

    ¿Puedes decirme qué estaba fumando? Su discurso era incoherente y arrastrado.