nosey parker

plural nosey parkers · alternative nosy parker · alternative nosey-parker · alternative nosy-parker

1. IrelandUKcolloquialAn overly inquisitive or prying person.

   Yer a lotta nosey parkers.

   1991, Kathleen Dayus, Where There's Life, London: Virago Press Ltd

   Synonyms: buttinsky, stickybeak

present singular third person nosey parkers · participle present nosey parkering · participle past nosey parkered · past nosey parkered · alternative nosy parker · alternative nosey-parker · alternative nosy-parker

1. intransitiveslangTo snoop; to behave in an inquisitive manner.

   Now, I must admit I love nosey parkering around houses.

   2004, David Robinson, An Expat's Life, Luxembourg & the White Rose, page 123

   3 more examples

   "I don't want to 'nosey parker'," he said, "but police have got to be told if there's anything wrong..."

   1944, Ernest Robertson Punshon, Secrets Can't be Kept, page 23

   Alleyn is no dabbler or dilettante whose hobby is criminology and who nosey parkers around and chases ambulances to break the grip of boredom with a spot of adventure.

   1979, LeRoy Lad Panek, Watteau's Shepherds: The Detective Novel in Britain, 1914-1940, page 189

   The inspector opened his mouth to ask Fred what she had better tell, but Ivy flared, "We'd be out of business in no time if I nosey parkered on everyone I saw around at night."

   1995, Anne Worboys, Village Sins, page 144