oler a pólvora: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  SpainLatin Americaneutral
  • To smell strongly of gunpowder (literal smell associated with firearms or explosives).

  Examples

  Beta

  • Después del disparo, el aire quedó impregnado con olor a pólvora que tardó horas en desaparecer.

    After the shot, the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder that took hours to disappear.

  • En el campo de tiro, siempre se puede oler a pólvora después de las prácticas de tiro.

    At the shooting range, you can always smell gunpowder after the shooting practice.

  • Las armas recién limpiadas tenían un olor fuerte a pólvora que me hizo toser un poco.

    The freshly cleaned guns had a strong smell of gunpowder that made me cough a bit.

  • El humo y el olor a pólvora indicaban que acababa de haber una batalla cerca de la aldea.

    The smoke and smell of gunpowder indicated that there had just been a battle near the village.

• 2.

  SpainLatin Americaneutralinformal
  • To indicate the imminence of conflict, confrontation, or violence; to portend rising tension or trouble.

  Examples

  Beta

  • En el ambiente político actual, todo huele a pólvora y parece que pronto habrá enfrentamientos.

    In the current political atmosphere, everything smells like gunpowder and it seems confrontations will happen soon.

  • Cuando escuché las acusaciones, supe que olía a pólvora y que la situación se iba a poner tensa.

    When I heard the accusations, I knew it smelled like gunpowder and the situation would get tense.

  • Entre los dos equipos de fútbol se siente un ambiente que huele a pólvora antes del partido decisivo.

    Between the two football teams, there’s an atmosphere that smells like gunpowder before the decisive match.