Stink versus Smell

[kap]

S/O and I are having a debate over the words' usage. Can anyone here give us a clear usage of those words. TiA

[C(-)ris]

Stink implies something that smells bad or gives off a bad odor. Smell is what you do with your nose.

I smell dinner cooking.

The dirty laundry stinks.

[ho'ard]

And you're sitting there with the laptop, talking to your invisible friends while giving her occasional attention? You must have some incredible talent or attribute that makes her willing to put up with this.

[kap]

C(-)ris,
My S/O thinks the verbs stink and smell are interchangeable. For instance, the dog smells because he gives off pungent body odor. I disagree I think the verb should be stink.

h',
Talent? A few. Attributes? Many. That is why we are still happily together for more than 17 years And now I am returning to watch Cold Case DVDs with her.

[DaviDC.]

A stink is always a smell.
A smell doesn't always stink.

[Janit]

Stink is negative, but smell is more neutral:

"The dog smells good."
"The dog smells bad."

Used without an adjective, smell tends to take on the more negative connotation:

Add inflection and a wrinkled nose to "That dog smells!" and you get a slightly more polite statement than "That dog stinks."

I suspect that the strict grammarians would say that "The dog smells" without an adjective more properly refers to what the dog does with his nose rather than how he affects OUR noses, but the phrase is often used that way in the spoken language.

Perhaps you are really arguing over whose turn it is to give the dog a bath?

[kap]

[quote Janit]
Perhaps you are really arguing over whose turn it is to give the dog a bath?
True
S/O got offended thinking "stink" is an offensive word. She'd prefer "smell", i.e. he smells bad.

[OWC Jamie]

Dog must have an inferiority complex by now.

[Lux Interior]

My dog has no nose.

[lafinfil]

[quote Lux Interior]My dog has no nose.
So how does he smell ?


(wait for it)