# nose around

idiom

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

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- Stop nosing around my desk while I am away.
- The new employee kept nosing around the office files, which made his coworkers feel quite uncomfortable.
- Despite the strict warnings to respect the privacy of the estate, the curious guest could not resist nosing around the locked study during the dinner party.

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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.