# magpie

/ˈmæɡˌpaɪ/ (US) · /mˈæɡpaɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/magpie
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the bird

noun · CEFR B2

a large black and white bird with a long tail, known for being noisy and intelligent.

For teachers: a bird of the Corvidae family, specifically Pica pica, characterized by pied plumage and a long tail.

- A magpie landed on the fence and made a loud, chattering sound.
- The magpie is often associated with folklore and is renowned for its complex social behaviours and high level of intelligence.

### 2. a person who hoards

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

someone who likes to collect or steal small things, especially shiny ones.

For teachers: a person who compulsively collects or hoards small objects, often of little value.

- My sister is a bit of a magpie; she has boxes full of old buttons and ribbons.
- He had a magpie-like tendency to accumulate obscure historical trivia and vintage postcards from every city he visited.

### 3. sports fan/player

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English · Dialect

a nickname for a fan or player of certain sports teams that wear black and white, like Newcastle United.

For teachers: a supporter or player of a sports club with black-and-white kits, most notably Newcastle United F.C. or Collingwood F.C.

- The Magpies celebrated their victory in the streets after the final whistle.
- As a lifelong Magpie, he never missed a home game at St James' Park, regardless of the weather.

### 4. to steal or collect

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal · Literary

to take or collect things that do not belong to you, often because they look interesting.

For teachers: to steal, scavenge, or hoard items in a manner reminiscent of the bird's perceived behaviour.

- She managed to magpie several useful ideas from the other designers.
- The author was known to magpie snippets of overheard conversation to use as dialogue in his novels.

### 5. to chatter

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

to talk a lot or gossip about other people.

For teachers: to talk incessantly or idly; to engage in gossip.

- The two neighbors stood by the gate, magpieing about the new family on the street.
- They spent the entire afternoon magpieing about local scandals, oblivious to the work they were supposed to be finishing.

## Examples

- He is a magpie for old coins and stamps.
- The soldier was known as a magpie for his habit of collecting unique weapons from every base he visited.
- While some viewed his fascination with historical artifacts as a harmless hobby, others saw him as a magpie, constantly seeking to enrich his private collection at the expense of institutional resources.

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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.