to pry

Examples

• All

• I didn't mean to pry into your personal matters; I was just concerned.

• You know, Miss Stone, I've been signing stacks of these things for weeks now, and I hate to pry, but what are they?

  The Flintstones (1994)

• If I might pry, how much are you being paid for your efforts?

  Broken City (2013)

• Thus, I sent out flight after flight of letters, trying to pry news from them.

  Fiction book (1991)

• When she was asked in my presence, I didn't ask because I try not to pry, but someone else did.

• The two men tried to pry information out of the flyer.

  Fiction book (1990)

• "Forgive me for prying," he said gently, "but I take it the father's not in the picture?"

  Fiction book (1995)

• Far be it from me to pry into your personal life, Umbopo... but you might've told me about yourself and the diamonds.

  King Solomon's Mines (1985)

• "And just because you're my superior officer doesn't give you the right to pry into my personal affairs!"

  Fiction book (1992)

• - Don't think I'm prying, but how's Helen?

  In the Woods (1999)

Synonyms

P

to poke

vsto pry

• Informal

124 6.7

Try to find out about someone's private life

targets private affairs specifically rather than any unwanted place

I

to intrude

vsto pry

105 4.4

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

is broader, covering physical entry not only private personal enquiries

S

to snoop

vsto pry

89 5.7

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

is intrusive but typically more secretive than direct questioning

N

to nose

vsto pry

• Informal

17 7.7

To try to find out private things about someone by looking or asking

focuses on private affairs rather than general matters

P

to pry into

vsto pry

• Informal

8 7.2

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

has identical meaning but includes the preposition form

H

to horn in

vsto pry

• Informal

5 8.2

To join a conversation or activity without being invited

is less about private curiosity and more about joining uninvited

P

to poke one's nose into

vsto pry

• Informal

1 7.3

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

is the same intrusion but used for personal matters especially

S

to stick one's nose into

vsto pry

• UK

1 7.9

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

is more formal than this casual idiom

P

to pry into someone's business

vsto pry

• Informal

1 7.5

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

expresses the same intrusive asking about private affairs

P

to prise

vsto pry

• UK

9.8

Try to find out private facts about someone without permission

is the act of improper inquiry specifically for hidden information

Antonyms

L

to leave alone

∞ 2.3

To avoid touching and disturbing a person, animal or object

Phrasal Verbs

P

to pry into

• Informal

8 7.2

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

P

to pry into someone's business

• Informal

1 7.5

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

Compounds

P

pry bar

• US

3 4.8

A heavy metal tool with a flat pointed end used to lift things and pull nails

How Intrusive

to spy

132 4.4

to snoop

89 5.7

to pry

66 5.3

to probe

• Literature

35 5.1

to inquire

• Formal

16 3.7

to ask

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology