poke one's nose into
Meaning: To pry or interfere in matters that do not concern one.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “My aunt can't resist poking her nose into everyone's love life.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: Older as "thrust one's nose into," found in the 16th century; the idea is of a curious animal sniffing where it shouldn't. "Poke" became usual by the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: fourrer son nez dans les affaires de quelqu'un — literally: to stick one's nose into someone's business
More idioms — Body & Senses
- rot one's brain — To dull one's mind through mindless activity.
- put someone back on their feet — To help someone recover, financially, physically or emotionally.
- Aunt Flo is visiting — A euphemism for having one's menstrual period.
- laugh one's head off — To laugh very loudly and for a long time.
- in one's birthday suit — Completely naked.
- go under the knife — To have a surgical operation.
More English idioms
- go down fighting — To keep struggling until the very end, even when defeat is certain.
- none of your beeswax — A playful way of saying "none of your business."
- that's all she wrote — That is the end of it; there is nothing more.
- the butt of the joke — The person everyone laughs at or makes fun of.
- roll in the hay — To have casual sex.
- thick as a brick — Very stupid.
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