smelling salts
noun
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: a usually scented aromatic preparation of ammonium carbonate and ammonia water used as a stimulant and restorative
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Aunt Pittypat’s great-great granchillun have been running around in search of their smelling salts in the wake of the Big Ten’s blockbuster media rights deal. 
Kevin Scarbinski, al, 22 Aug. 2022 Grab the smelling salts: A new Jane Austen movie has arrived. Ellen Gamerman, WSJ, 15 July 2022 From the moment that Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) rose from a lake dripping wet in a white shirt, Pride and Prejudice fans were reaching for their smelling salts. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2022 The nurse attempted to revive James using smelling salts. Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2022 Someone please pass the smelling salts to the Sierra Club. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 Jan. 2022 Mora was caught on camera sniffing ammonia capsules, prompting John Madden to comment that smelling salts are normally used by players. Dom Amore, courant.com, 12 Nov. 2021 After responding Southfield firefighters attempted to revive Cochran using smelling salts and found no pulse or respirations, he was transported to the Providence Hospital, where he was declared deceased shortly after arriving. Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 14 Oct. 2021 The dream gets real in a hurry when viewed through a pair of black eyes or a whiff of smelling salts. BostonGlobe.com, 27 Mar. 2021 See More
Kevin Scarbinski, al, 22 Aug. 2022 Grab the smelling salts: A new Jane Austen movie has arrived. Ellen Gamerman, WSJ, 15 July 2022 From the moment that Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) rose from a lake dripping wet in a white shirt, Pride and Prejudice fans were reaching for their smelling salts. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2022 The nurse attempted to revive James using smelling salts. Drake Bentley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2022 Someone please pass the smelling salts to the Sierra Club. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 3 Jan. 2022 Mora was caught on camera sniffing ammonia capsules, prompting John Madden to comment that smelling salts are normally used by players. Dom Amore, courant.com, 12 Nov. 2021 After responding Southfield firefighters attempted to revive Cochran using smelling salts and found no pulse or respirations, he was transported to the Providence Hospital, where he was declared deceased shortly after arriving. Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 14 Oct. 2021 The dream gets real in a hurry when viewed through a pair of black eyes or a whiff of smelling salts. BostonGlobe.com, 27 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1837, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
smelling salts
noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: a usually scented aromatic preparation of ammonium carbonate and ammonia water used as a stimulant and restorative