to nose
- verb
- /noʊz/
- Informal
- I just want to nose around a bit.
- to nose around
People started nosing me and Alan Pardew obviously noticed me and wanted me at Charlton but couldn't get me.
- People started nosing me and Alan Pardew obviously noticed me and wanted me at Charlton but couldn't get me.
Examples
-
It seems that my ex.. has been nosing around in my financial affairs.
-
People keep coming into the house, nosing around her stuff, looking at her diary...
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I thought I might nose around a bit.
-
But will their schools encourage them to nose into government and possibly ask embarrassing questions?
Blog text (2) -
Couple of guys from the tool and die plant came nosing around.
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I don't want to nose in, but it's not a bit unstable.
Fiction book (2002) -
I couldn't run the risk of you nosing around in my business.
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If anybody else comes nosing around, they're going to get something they don't like!
-
I don't need civilians nosing around in matters that are supposed to be covert in nature.
Fiction book (1997) -
I noticed some neighbors nosing around my garden, looking for any signs of the new flowers.
Synonyms
Try to find out about someone's private life
To go into a place or conversation where you are not welcome
To secretly look for someone's private information or watch them
Try to learn about someone's private life in an impolite way
Try to find out private things about someone in an annoying way
To join a conversation or activity without being invited
To try to take part in other people's business without being asked
To get involved in other people's business without being asked
To get involved in other people's business when not wanted
To try to find out private things about someone without their permission
Try to find out private facts about someone without permission
To search carefully through things in a small place like a bag or box
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
To show open disrespect by refusing to follow rules or customs
- Informal
To work hard for a long time on a difficult task without stopping
Deliberately do something that hurts you more than the person you want to punish
- Informal
To think about things beyond your own immediate needs
Phrasal Verbs
To move the nose so it makes small lines to show you do not like something
- Informal
To try to take part in other people's business without being asked
Compounds
- Specialized
The pointed front part of a rocket, missile, or plane that protects important parts and reduces air resistance during flight
A sudden steep fall that often happens to a plane with its front pointing down or to prices
- Specialized
An enlarged red nose with visible blood vessels that often comes from heavy drinking
- Archaic
A nose that becomes large and red with visible veins from long heavy drinking
How Nosy
Surface Forms
Etymology
To nose around (to search or pry) uses the image of the nose sniffing into places, based on the old word nosu for the smelling part. That is why to nose into something means to look for information in a rather nosy way.