NOSINESS, NOSY
ADJECTIVES
► ALL IN THE KOOL-AID AND DON’T KNOW THE FLAVOUR nosy and inquisitive while also ignorant of the situation → 1993 African-American sl.
► BEAKY nosy, inquisitive → 2000s sl.
► BUSY interfering, nosy → 1970s
► FEISTY nosy, inquisitive → c1960 Amer. dial.
► GYPSY interfering, meddling, nosy, officious, irritatingly inquisitive → 20C W. Indies sl.
► NEBBIE ► NEBBY nosy, inquisitive → 1932 Ulster sl.
► NEBBY-NOSED nosy, inquisitive, curious, intrusive → 1968 Amer. dial.
► NEWSY of a person: news-loving; inquisitive, prying, nosy, gossipy → 1899 Amer. dial.
► NIBBING being nosy, meddling → 1942 Amer. dial.
► NIBBY snoopy, inquisitive, nosy → 1942 Amer. dial.
► NOSY ENOUGH TO WANT TO KNOW THE INS AND OUTS OF A CHOOK’S BUM said of a prying person; excessively inquisitive or nosy → 1999 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► PIKEY nosy, prying, inquisitive → 1959 Amer. dial.
► QUIZZY inquisitive, nosy → 1950s Aust. & NZ sl.
NOUNS
► FACE interference, nosiness → 19C US sl.
NOUNS – PERSON
► BEEKIE a nosy person → 1975 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BIG-NOSE an over-inquisitive or nosy person → 1988 Aust. sl. (Bk.)
► CURTAIN-TWITCHER a person who observes other people’s activities from his or her window, esp. in a furtive and prying manner; a nosy neighbour → 1940 colloq., chiefly Brit. usage
► GIG a detective, or any intrusive person; one who cannot mind his own business, a nosy or inquisitive person; a busybody; an eavesdropper → 1959 Aust. sl.
► GIL a nosy, inquisitive, interfering person; a busybody → 1823 UK sl.
► JACK NOHI an inquisitive person; a nosy parker → 1940s NZ sl.
► MEDDLE BOX an interfering nosy person; a busybody → 1968 Amer. dial.
► MEDDLESOME BOX an interfering nosy person; a busybody → 1968 Amer. dial.
► MEDDLESOME MATILDY an interfering nosy person; a busybody → 1965 Amer. dial.
► MEDDLESOME MATTIE an interfering nosy person; a busybody → 1946 Amer. dial.
► NEWSBUG a person who is always poking into other people’s affairs; a nosy person → 1965 Amer. dial.
► NIBSHIT a nosy, inquisitive person → 1960s US sl.
► NOSE-BOX one who is always poking into other’s affairs; a meddlesome person → 1965 Amer. dial.
► NOSE-OINTMENT an overly inquisitive, nosy person → Brit. sl.
► NOSEY BOB an inquisitive person; a nosey parker → 1930 Aust. sl.
► NOSY ROSY one who is always poking into other people’s affairs; a nosy, meddlesome person; a gossip → 1965 Amer. dial.
► PIKE a nosy, snoopy, or inquisitive person, a prying person → 1959 Amer. dial.
► ROSY NOSY one who is always poking into other people’s affairs; a nosy, meddlesome person; a gossip → 1965 Amer. dial.
► STICKYBEAK a person who pries into the affairs of others; a nosy or inquisitive person → 1917 Aust. & NZ colloq.
PHRASES
► ALL UP IN THE KOOLAID wanting to know what is going on, being nosy or inquisitive → 1997 US students’ & teen sl.
► DO YOU HAVE A BADGE? aren’t you being a bit nosy? → 1944 services’ sl. (Bk.)
VERBS
► FAAS ► FASS to be nosy or inquisitive → 1930s W. Indies sl.
► NEB ► NEB ABOUT to pry; to nose around, to be nosy or inquisitive → 1928 Amer. dial.
► PIKE to be nosy, to snoop, to pry → 1959 Amer. dial.
► STICKYBEAK to pry, to snoop, to be nosy → 1921 Aust. & NZ colloq.
► STICK ONE’S FACE IN to interfere, to be nosy → L19 US sl.
Lexicophilia 