to look for information or for something you want in a particular place
A couple of detectives were sniffing around the hotel, asking questions.
phrasesniff round1.sniff around • sniff around sth usually progressiveinformal to try to find out information about someone or something, especially information that they want to hide: It won't be long before the tax office starts sniffing around.Of course she'll keep quiet. She won't want the police sniffing around her place.2.sniff around sb • sniff around usually progressiveBrE informal to show an eager interest in sb or sth when this is not wanted: Rich families didn't want people like him sniffing around their daughters.What is Psion doing sniffing around Amstrad?