# nose about

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/nose-about
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To snoop around; to discreetly or covertly search or examine a place or situation.

## Examples

- Stop nosing about in my private desk drawers.
- The curious neighbor was always nosing about our garden to see what we were growing.
- While the host was distracted in the kitchen, the guest began nosing about the study, hoping to uncover evidence of the family's hidden financial troubles.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.