nosy parker

nosy parker

A person who likes to meddle or pry into other people's lives. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I have to be careful about what I tell Betty because she's such a nosy parker that she'll bombard you with questions at the slightest provocation.
See also: nosy, parker
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a nosey parker

BRITISH, INFORMAL
A nosey parker is someone who wants to know too much about other people. Note: `Nosey' is sometimes spelled `nosy'. The village's resident nosey parker, Olive, likes to spy on her neighbours with binoculars. Supermarkets are a nosy parker's paradise. The contents of strangers' trollies tell us so much about their lives. Note: `Parker' may refer to Matthew Parker, who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1559, and had a reputation for interfering in people's business.
See also: nosey, parker
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a ˌnosy ˈparker

(British English, informal, becoming old-fashioned) a person who is too interested in other people’s private lives: Our next door neighbour is a real nosy parker. He always has to know everything about everybody on our street.
See also: nosy, parker
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

nosey Parker

verb
See nosy parker
See also: nosey, Parker

nosy parker

and nosey Parker (ˈnozi ˈpɑrkɚ)
n. a nosy person. (Also a term of address. No one really knows who or what parker is or was. It is an old expression, used in British and American English, at least. Some would like to derive it from nose-poker, but there is no record of the latter aver having been said.) Look, you nosy parker, mind your own business.
See also: nosy, parker
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • a nosey parker
  • a nosy parker
  • nosey
  • nosey Parker
  • nosy
  • parker
  • winkle out
  • pry (something) out of (someone or something)
  • pry from
  • pry off
References in periodicals archive
Nosy Parker: Named after a particularly curious Anglican churchman Matthew Parker who also had a very large nose.
Gordon Bennett! So that's how it got its name..
First person on the scene was nosy parker Emily Bishop who saw Judy out cold on the concrete and asked: "Are you all right?"
HOT TELLY: OOPS! IT'S TRACY'S TALK UP THE AISLE
Before you knew it, every Nosy Parker could be poking around in your private life.
Your problems: Miriam Stoppard's Advice Column: Should I 'come out'?
She is also Chief Crusader, Busybody and Nosy Parker.
Two's comedy, three's a crowd
But Coronation Street's legendary nosy parker Hilda Ogden is back.
Street's Hilda is back on the box
WHY should Boris Johnson discuss his private life with all of those nosy parkers and particularly the media?
Boris only one who can get us a deal
The nosy parkers who love nothing more than cruising around getting your hopes up, even though they have no intention of buying.
KIM'S WORLD
GEORGE Clooney suffered from a few nosy parkers while he was in hospital.
the Razz: Clooney's private claims
Rooms have pigeon-eye views across Hyde Park towards Buck House - the Queen objects to extra floors being built because she doesn't want nosy parkers peeking into her back garden.
Travel: HOTEL of the week
But for all those nosy parkers out there, actor Robert Webb (below) reveals his greatest compilation of blunders yet.
SATURDAY JUNE 14; TV CHOICE
It was such interfering meddlers and nuisances who demanded that Plimsoll Lines be adopted by shipping companies to prevent greedy owners from overloading their vessels and endangering the lives of their crews and it was such pests and nosy parkers with the nanny state mentality who ensured that all children received a proper education with the passing of the Education Act of 1870.
Hail the nanny state
There will be a cast of thousands to honour special guests, Charles and Camilla, and the street will be thronging with media, police and the usual nosy parkers.
Bob Shields: Facing a royal rabble
A big fence will derail vandals and nosy parkers on a disused railway line, it is claimed.
Trail of trouble
NOSY PARKERS Some of the more curious people from South Wales will be offered a role in an upcoming Discovery Channel programme, which will be screened in June.
Cardiff, the capital city of curiosity
Some of the nosy parkers even looked up the insurance details of celebrities, Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes revealed.
INSURANCE SPIES FURY; Customers' personal details exposed