PhrasesHub

Nosy parker

    Definitions

      • curious person
        To refer to someone who is overly inquisitive or prying into other people's affairs

      • meddlesome person
        To describe someone who is interfering or intrusive in other people's business

    Examples of Nosy parker

    • Julie is such a nosy parker, always sticking her nose in other people's affairs.

      In this example, "nosy parker" is being used as a descriptive adjective to characterize Julie's behavior. It means that she is excessively curious or meddlesome, constantly prying into other people's business. The phrase "nosy parker" originated in British slang and refers to a person who loiters nearby and seems to have no reason for being there, and is sometimes associated with a park watchman (or "parker") who seems to be prying into people's activities.

    • When I mentioned my promotion to Sue, she acted like a nosy parker and started questioning me about my salary and job responsibilities.

      In this example, "nosy parker" is being used as a metaphor to describe Sue's reaction. It implies that she was more interested in the details of Julie's promotion than she should have been, and may have been implying that she was jealous or envious.

    • I overheard Sam gossiping about me to a nosy parker at the party last night.

      Here, "nosy parker" is being used as a noun to refer to someone who is a perpetual eavesdropper or gossip. The person Sam overheard was likely spreading rumors or confidential information about Julie without her permission.

    • I warned Mary not to become a nosy parker like her mother, who used to pry into everyone's business.

      Here, "nosy parker" is being used as a hypothetical situation to discourage Mary from emulating her mother's behavior. It implies that her mother's excessive curiosity or meddling may have caused problems or conflicts in her relationships with others, and serves as a warning to Mary to avoid similar tendencies.

    • Sarah kept peeking into her neighbor's yard, trying to catch a glimpse of their new puppy. John complained to her, "Sarah, stop being such a nosy parker!"

      The idiom "nosy parker" refers to someone who is overly curious or prying about other people's affairs, behaving like a person who loiters around a park. In this example, Sarah's constant curiosity about her neighbor's puppy makes her the embodiment of the idiom.

    • At the office party, Emily couldn't help but listen in on her colleagues' discussions, eavesdropping on every conversation. her coworker whispered to her, "Emily, you're being a nosy parker!"

      The idiom "nosy parker" implies that the person in question is invading other people's privacy and intruding on their conversations, just as a person might linger outside a park. In this example, Emily's habit of eavesdropping on her coworkers' conversations makes her a nosy parker.

    • During a hot summer day, a group of kids gathered around the block, trying to get a glimpse of their neighbor's new outdoor pool. The neighbor, tired of all the attention, called the police and reported them for "being a bunch of nosy parkers!"

      In this example, the idiom "nosy parker" is used metaphorically to describe a group of people who are being excessively curious and causing a disturbance by loitering around a specific location.

    • At the town council meeting, Carol started asking a lot of questions about the budget plans, trying to clarify certain aspects of the presentation. However, the town mayor interrupted her, "Carol, please refrain from being a nosy parker and let us finish our discussion!"

      The idiom "nosy parker" is used in this example to describe someone who is asking too many questions, making it difficult for other people to discuss or present information. In this case, the mayor asks Carol to stop being a nosy parker to allow the discussion to continue without interruption.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "nosy parker" is used to describe someone who is overly curious or meddling in other people's affairs. It is often used in a lighthearted or slightly disapproving manner to caution against being too nosy or interfering in others' business.

    Origin of "Nosy parker"

    The origin of the idiom "nosy parker" is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in the UK in the early 20th century. The term "nosy" means overly curious or inquisitive, and "parker" is thought to refer to the surname of an actual person. The idiom may have been popularized through fictional characters or stories, but its exact origins are uncertain. Regardless of its specific origins, "nosy parker" has become a widely used idiom in English to describe someone who is overly nosy or intrusive.