angiescarr

My neighbour said (while discussing the progress of our housebuild) "Huele de casa" Lierally "smells like a house". Not sure if that's an expression meaning it feels like a house...or if my house stinks!

bil

I like 'Huele como un cura muerte.'

angiescarr

So do I... As long as it's not applied to my house:-)
What context is it used in. Just for real smells or like we use "It smells fishy to me"???

bil

It's used for really bad smells. Imaging what a dead body would smell like, especially a fat one (priests are never reknowned for being small eaters.)

cricketman

It is really "Huele de" and "Huele como"?

I've always been told that the right proposition is "Huele a"

agoreira

I'm worried, I'm agreeing with you! Definitely "huele A" is if something smells of something, but "huele como" if it smells like.
y huele como una noche lluviosa en primavera.
Well, that's my take on it. Could be wrong! But deffo, not "huele de"

agoreira

That often translates, aquí hay gato encerrado

angiescarr

I think you're right. it was probably "Huele a"

bil

So what's the definitive answer?

goaty

You can say huele a platano

o huele como a platano (less certain)

sometimes you can leave the a out, huele raro.

of course you can say huele de puta madre, huele de maravilla (but the de forms part of these words)

agoreira

Agree with the first example, (plátano) strongly disagree with the second, and the third has nothing to do with the question, it is not comparing anything with anything.

goaty

Well I'm afraid your wrong, the second is correct. I added the "less certain" not to say that I am not certain, but to say you use it when there is less certainty. The other examples were added to add information and give examples of other constructions and I wasn't answering any concrete question.
Speaking of being wrong, your example is wrong huele como una noche lluviosa en primavera, no spaniard would say that.

Treegod

One of my sobrino's favourite phrases, "¡Qué beste!" He's almost 2 years old now so it comes out "Oo, te tete."

goaty

apeste/peste

Treegod

Thanks for the correction. This seems to be a learning thread as well as a funny thread