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to nose

to nose

16 7.7
To try to find out private things about someone by looking or asking
  • verb
  • /noʊz/
  • Informal
: fisgonear
  • 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.

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...

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

to snoop
vsto nose
106 5.7

To secretly look for someone's private information or watch them

is more about open searching or asking rather than covert watching
to intrude
vsto nose
105 4.4

To go into a place or conversation where you are not welcome

is concerned with asking or searching rather than physical entry
to poke
vsto nose
  • Informal
69 6.7

Try to find out about someone's private life

is focused on seeking information rather than entering places or spaces
to pry
vsto nose
59 5.3

Try to learn about someone's private life in an impolite way

is a general inquiry that can be nosy without aiming at secrets
to pry into
vsto nose
  • Informal
11 7.2

Try to find out private things about someone in an annoying way

is a general search that is meddlesome but less focused on private facts
to horn in
vsto nose
  • Informal
8 8.2

To join a conversation or activity without being invited

focuses more on seeking information rather than taking part uninvited
to stick your nose into
vsto nose
  • Informal
2 8.0

To get involved in other people's business when not wanted

is about asking or looking for information rather than simply intruding
to pry into someone's business
vsto nose
  • Informal
1 7.5

To try to find out private things about someone without their permission

is a broader search action that may be meddlesome rather than personal
to prise
vsto nose
  • UK
1 9.8

Try to find out private facts about someone without permission

is similar but can also mean a less targeted or casual search
to ferret around
vsto nose
  • Informal
1 7.4

To search carefully through things in a small place like a bag or box

is more about questioning people and private matters rather than objects
to poke one's nose into
vsto nose
  • Informal
1 7.3

To try to take part in other people's business without being asked

is centered on searching or questioning rather than general interference
7.9

To get involved in other people's business without being asked

is more about searching or asking questions rather than mere interference

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

106 3.9

Ignore something or someone on purpose

Idioms

71 6.4

Happens very near someone when they do not notice

on the nose
  • Informal
18 5.9

Exactly correct in every detail

by a nose
  • Informal
7 4.9

To win with a very small lead in a race or contest

5 8.0

Give much more money than normal for something

4 7.7

Make someone do what you want without them noticing

4 6.3

To work hard for a long time without stopping

3 9.2

Feeling annoyed because someone ignored you or treated you badly

It does not bother me if something happens

Deliberately do something that hurts you more than the person you want to punish

the nose knows
  • Informal
1 9.8

To trust a feeling that something is wrong

1 9.9

A phrase people say to make fun of someone who brags

1 7.5

To do something unpleasant because it is necessary

To avoid trouble and not attract bad attention

To work hard for a long time on a difficult task without stopping

8.2

To go to the restroom to fix makeup or hair as a polite excuse

To think about things beyond your own immediate needs

9.2

To show open disrespect by refusing to follow rules or customs

To show you think something is not good enough

Phrasal Verbs

to brown-nose
  • Offensive
5 8.2

To flatter someone in power without meaning it to get their favor

To make a person's nose feel slightly itchy so they want to sneeze

2 8.0

To get involved in other people's business when not wanted

to nose out
  • Informal
1 6.9

Find something after careful searching

1 7.3

To try to take part in other people's business without being asked

1 5.3

To put a finger in your nose to remove mucus

To get involved in other people's business without being asked

To move the nose so it makes small lines to show you do not like something

Compounds

nose job
  • Informal
33 4.6

An operation to change the shape of the nose to make it look better

18 4.1

A nose injury that makes blood come out or a small defeat for someone

12 3.8

A small metal piece worn through the nose for decoration or to control an animal

8 5.3

A sudden steep fall that often happens to a plane with its front pointing down or to prices

nose candy
  • NSFW
3 9.9

An illegal white drug that people inhale through the nose

nose cone
  • Specialized
3 6.5

The pointed front part of a rocket, missile, or plane that protects important parts and reduces air resistance during flight

2 7.5

A nose with a high, slightly curved bridge that gives a strong profile

1 5.1

A short, flat nose with the tip turned up

1 4.1

Having a rounded end often found on tools like scissors

camel's nose
  • Informal
1 9.9

A small first step that leads to bigger unwanted demands

1 9.5

A small flute played by blowing air through the nose

toffee-nose
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who thinks they are better than others

1 6.7

A nose curved downward like a hawk's beak

A doctor who treats problems of the ear, nose, and throat

bull nose
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A pig disease causing swelling and redness of the nose

potato nose
  • Informal
1 9.9

A large red round nose with small red lines from blood vessels

1 4.1

A quick check of how many people are present to see attendance or support

nose-pick
  • Offensive
1 8.6

Putting a finger inside your nose or a person who does this

round-nose
  • Specialized
1 4.9

Pliers with smooth rounded jaws used to bend wire and make loops

1 5.1

A very strong sense of smell that notices faint scents

1 9.9

A large red nose with visible small blood vessels often caused by heavy drinking

1 9.9

The fatty tail of a cooked bird like a chicken or turkey

nose drops
  • NSFW
1 9.9

A street name for the illegal drug heroin

A red, swollen nose with small broken veins, often from heavy drinking

hammer nose
  • Specialized
9.9

An enlarged red nose with visible blood vessels that often comes from heavy drinking

nose test
  • Informal
6.1

To use smell or instinct to check if something seems right

round-nose
  • Specialized
6.0

A bullet with a rounded tip that is less likely to go through things

rum nose
  • Archaic
9.9

A red, swollen nose with small red veins, often linked to heavy drinking

9.6

A fatty tail end of a cooked chicken or turkey that many people like to eat

toper's nose
  • Archaic
9.9

A nose that becomes large and red with visible veins from long heavy drinking

How Nosy

to pry
59 5.3
to nose
  • Informal
16 7.7
to rummage
35 3.8
to poke into
  • Informal
1 5.2

Surface Forms

nose infinitive
nosed past
nosed past participle
nosing present participle
noses third person singular

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.