smell like a tart's handbag

English

Alternative forms

• smell like a tart's boudoir, smell like a tart's bedroom, smell like a tart's handkerchief

Verb

smell like a tart's handbag (third-person singular simple present smells like a tart's handbag, present participle smelling like a tart's handbag, simple past and past participle smelt like a tart's handbag or smelled like a tart's handbag)

1. (UK, idiomatic, slang, derogatory, simile) To smell strongly of perfume.

   I dropped a perfume bottle on the floor and now the house smells like a tart's handbag.