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Meaning & use

to be nosey

phrase·Everydayinformaldisapproving

Last updated

UK/tə biː ˈnəʊzi/
US/tə biː ˈnoʊzi/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. phraselinkinginformaldisapproving

    To take too much interest in other people's private lives and ask about things that are not your business.

    Grammar: Used after be: she is nosey. The adjective describes the person, so it follows am, is, are, was or were.

    Patterns

    • be nosey about something
    • be nosey about someone
    • be nosey about someone's business

    Our new neighbor is really nosey and always wants to know where we go.

    Don't be nosey about my salary; it's private.

    My aunt is nosey about everyone's love life.

  2. phraseintransitiveinformaldisapproving

    To try to find out private information that does not concern you.

    Grammar: Often used in the pattern be nosey and do something, or be nosey about something, to describe the action.

    Patterns

    • be nosey and ask questions
    • be nosey about something
    • be nosey into someone's affairs

    He was nosey and opened the letter that was addressed to his sister.

    The reporters were nosey and kept calling the family.

    Stop being nosey and reading my messages over my shoulder.

Word forms

comparativenosier
superlativenosiest

Common combinations

be nosey about something
She is nosey about her coworkers' private lives.
be nosey about someone
Why are you so nosey about my new boyfriend?
be nosey and ask
He was nosey and asked how much the house cost.
a nosey neighbor
A nosey neighbor told everyone that we had guests.
be nosey about someone's business
Please don't be nosey about my business.

Synonyms and how they differ

curious
Curious can be neutral or even positive, while nosey clearly shows disapproval because the interest is in private matters.
prying
Prying is stronger and more formal; it suggests actively searching for private information, not just asking.
inquisitive
Inquisitive often sounds positive or neutral and means eager to learn, whereas nosey suggests unwanted interest in other people's lives.

Opposites

uninteresteddiscreet

Word family

nose verb
To search for information in other people's business, often in the phrase nose around.
nosily adverb
In a way that shows too much interest in other people's private lives.
nosiness noun
The quality of being too interested in other people's private lives.

Commonly confused: to be nosey or nosy?

to be nosey vs nosy

This is just another spelling of the same word; nosey is common in British English and nosy in American English.

Practice

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