2006-09-14 12:43:07 · 6 answers · asked by vbu1234 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
If there is telltale evidence of some event, the event is probably occurring.
2006-09-14 12:49:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is an English idiom common in the USA. It generally means "Where there is an effect, the thing that generally creates that effect is probably causing it."
Sometimes, "where there's smoke, there's fire" can be used in more general terms to refer to an unspecified cause as well.
This idiom is usually used to refer to negative things. I'll provide an example of it's usage:
A fellow named Bill comes home to his wife from work really late at night with lipstick on his collar. This happen frequently.
His wife Jane wonders if he's cheating on him. She confides in a friend, who responds, "Well Jane, if there's smoke, there's fire."
What her friend is saying with the idiom is that because the signs of Bill cheating on Jane are there, he probably IS cheating on her.
2006-09-14 13:04:00 · answer #2 · answered by Lendorien 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We used to have a cousin named Mike who was always getting himself in to something, a real troublemaker and my uncle used to say when he saw him in a crowd of people, that where there's Mike, there's trouble. That meant, that where there is mayhem or trouble, there was Mike, right in the middle of it. So if you see, feel, think, witness, etc something going on (the smoke), there's a bigger mess coming behind it (the fire)....smile
2006-09-14 12:53:48 · answer #3 · answered by Lene B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Meaning when someone is smoking, and throws their cigarrette somewhere else meanining they are truly careless and they have to pay attention.
2006-09-14 12:50:51 · answer #4 · answered by Red Panda 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Generally when something is present, then the other is not far behind.
2006-09-14 12:50:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That something worse is about to happen.
2006-09-14 12:50:16 · answer #6 · answered by Fleur de Lis 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋