busybody

busybody
/biz"ee bod'ee/, n., pl. busybodies.
a person who pries into or meddles in the affairs of others.
[1520-30; BUSY + BODY]
Syn. snoop, pry, meddler, Nosy Parker; gossip, blabbermouth.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Busybody — Bus y*bod y ( b[o^]d [y^]), n.; pl. {Busybodies} ( b[o^]d [i^]z). One who officiously concerns himself with the affairs of others; a meddling person. [1913 Webster] And not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • busybody — 1520s, from BUSY (Cf. busy) + BODY (Cf. body) person …   Etymology dictionary

  • busybody — [n] nosy, impertinent person backseat driver*, butt in*, buttinsky*, eavesdropper, fink*, fussbudget, gossip, intermeddler, intruder, meddler, newsmonger*, nosey parker*, rubberneck*, scandalmonger*, sidewalk superintendent*, snoop, snooper,… …   New thesaurus

  • busybody — ► NOUN ▪ a meddling or prying person …   English terms dictionary

  • busybody — [biz′ēbäd΄ē] n. pl. busybodies a person who mixes into other people s affairs; meddler or gossip …   English World dictionary

  • busybody — [[t]bɪ̱zibɒdi[/t]] busybodies N COUNT (disapproval) If you refer to someone as a busybody, you are criticizing the way they interfere in other people s affairs. [INFORMAL] Some busybody tipped off the police, and they arrested someone …   English dictionary

  • busybody — UK [ˈbɪzɪˌbɒdɪ] / US [ˈbɪzɪˌbɑdɪ] noun [countable] Word forms busybody : singular busybody plural busybodies informal showing disapproval someone who is very interested in other people s private lives and activities and tries to get involved in… …   English dictionary

  • busybody —    Used since the sixteenth century to describe someone who is meddlesome, and takes an unwanted interest in other people’s affairs. ‘Little busybody’ is said to a child aged six by an older boy in Villette, by Charlotte Brontë. In The Pleasure… …   A dictionary of epithets and terms of address

  • busybody — noun Someone who interferes with others; one who is nosy, intrusive or meddlesome. Se that none of you suffre as a murtherer or as a thefe or an evyll doar or as a busybody in other mens matters. Syn: marplot, meddler, kibitzer, nosy parker …   Wiktionary

  • busybody — bus|y|bod|y [ bızi,badi ] noun count INFORMAL someone who is very interested in other people s private lives and activities and tries to get involved in them in a way that is annoying: She s such an interfering busybody …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • busybody — noun (C) someone who is too interested in other people s private activities: You interfering old busybody! …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”