nose out

verb3

1. •
   (informal) To find using one's sense of smell.

   • Trained to nose out anything from a hidden handgun to a cache of dynamite, the dogs are employed to check important trains like Rajdhani Express or Ashram Express when they arrive at the platform. — 2011
2. •
   (informal, figurative) To find by searching.
3. •
   (informal) To defeat by a small margin.

   • We were nosed out for the pennant that year, — 1916