nosey parker

Alternative forms

• nosy parker, nosey-parker, nosy-parker

Etymology

Unknown, 1890.^[1]

Noun

nosey parker (plural nosey parkers)

1. (UK, Ireland, colloquial) An overly inquisitive or prying person.
   • 1991, Kathleen Dayus, Where There's Life, London: Virago Press Ltd:

     Yer a lotta nosey parkers.

   Synonym: buttinski (US)

   Synonym: stickybeak (Australia, New Zealand)

Verb

nosey parker (third-person singular simple present nosey parkers, present participle nosey parkering, simple past and past participle nosey parkered)

1. To snoop; to behave in an inquisitive manner.
   • 1944, Ernest Robertson Punshon, Secrets Can't be Kept, page 23:

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

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

     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.

   • 1995, Anne Worboys, Village Sins, page 144:

     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."

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

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

References