a nosey 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.
See also:
  • a nosy parker
  • nosey
  • nosey Parker
  • nosy
  • nosy parker
  • parker
  • winkle out
  • pry (something) out of (someone or something)
  • pry from
  • pry off
References in periodicals archive
IF you are a bit of a nosey parker, then this might be the ideal job for you.
Do you have the nose for the job?
Five winners will each be getting a superb Paper:Mate space hopper and goodie bag and a further 25 runners-up will each get a goodie bag with a Nosey Parker pen, Paper:Mate yo-yo, mug and squeeze ball.
Red nosey Parkers
A NOSEY parker was rescued by firemen after spending an hour trapped at the bottom of a 40ft shaft yesterday.
MR NOSEY RESCUED