Cool MatePromising vs Smells like potential
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Promising
Beyond 10,000 (less common)B2adjective
Smells like potential
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
| Promising | Smells like potential | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈprɑːmɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //smɛlz laɪk pəˈtɛnʃəl//🇺🇸 //smɛlz laɪk pəˈtɛnʃəl// |
| Meaning | Showing signs of being good or successful in the future. | It suggests there is a great possibility of success. |
| Example | He was voted the most promising new actor for his part in the movie. | This project really **smells like potential**; I can't wait to see how it develops. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very | smell like success, full of potential, have potential |
| Antonyms | disappointing, unpromising | Looks unpromising, Seems hopeless |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'promise' - 'promising' describes potential, while 'promise' is a commitment., Using 'promising' for things that are not likely to succeed., Mixing up the forms; saying 'promise' instead of 'promising' when describing potential. | Confused with 'smells like success' which is more definitive., Omitted or misused in sarcastic contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'promising' to describe something that has potential, particularly in business or personal development. It's not appropriate for things that are guaranteed to succeed. | Use in contexts of optimism or when discussing opportunities. Not appropriate for formal settings. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Promising vs Smells like potential
What's the difference between Promising and Smells like potential?
Promising: Showing signs of being good or successful in the future. Smells like potential: It suggests there is a great possibility of success.
Can you show an example of each?
Promising: He was voted the most promising new actor for his part in the movie. Smells like potential: This project really **smells like potential**; I can't wait to see how it develops.
Can I use Promising and Smells like potential interchangeably?
Not always. Promising and Smells like potential are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.