stickybeak

English

Etymology

From sticky +‎ beak; presumably from the metaphor of sticking one′s beak (“nose”) where it is not wanted (compare nosy).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈstɪkibiːk/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Noun

stickybeak (plural stickybeaks)

1. (Australia, New Zealand, colloquial) An overly inquisitive person, a nosey parker.
   • 1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 109:

     I walked back towards the grinning stickybeak who took a few steps backwards before fleeing for the steamy safety of his laundry.

   • 1994, Robin Barker, Baby Love, Pan Macmillan Australia, published 2009, page 419:

     Babies of this age are delightful stickybeaks, vitally interested in everything and everyone around them.

   • 1999, Kate Grenville, The Idea of Perfection, 2012, Text Publishing, unnumbered page,

     And I like a chat, kind of thing.

     She glanced at Harley.

     Plus I′m a stickybeak, as you know.

   • 2004, Lynne Wilding, Outback Sunset, published 2010, unnumbered page:

     Vanessa took hold of his hand. ‘She′s a dear friend as well as my business manager and,’ she giggled as she admitted her agent′s greatest flaw, ‘when it comes to her clients, the world′s biggest stickybeak.’

2. (Australia, New Zealand, colloquial) An act of looking at or watching something, especially something which does not directly concern the one looking.

   Want me to have a stickybeak at that?

   Shall we take a stickybeak at that shop?

   • 2009, Australia Justine Vaisutis, Lonely Planet, page 239,

     It′s worth popping into the bar for a stickybeak.

   • 2009, Anna Goldsworthy, Piano Lessons, published 2011, page 109:

     Between properties, we stopped off for tea with my grandmother and my aunt, and my mother produced her stash of floor plans like enemy intelligence: ‘Have a stickybeak at this!’

   • 2010, Kate Howarth, Ten Hail Marys, page 4:

     God knows what the other patients and staff made of a mob of blackfellas rocking up to visit one of our own, in a private room, to have a stickybeak at the new bub.

   • 2018, Tim Winton, The Shepherd's Hut, Picador UK Paperback edition 2018, p.146:

     When I patted the pockets of them shorts there wasn't any phone.
     "It's in here on the table," said the Irishman.
     "And you had a good stickybeak I bet."

Synonyms

• (overly inquisitive person): nosey parker, snoop
• (act of looking): look-see, quick peek

Translations

nosy person

• German: Schnüffler (de) m
• Maori: ihu kurī

Verb

stickybeak (third-person singular simple present stickybeaks, present participle stickybeaking, simple past and past participle stickybeaked)

1. (Australia, New Zealand) To pry or snoop.
   • 2007, Kevin Hallewell, Woop Woop, page 104:

     Two of the more arrogant birds actually inspected the inside of the tent, clucking away to each other as they stickybeaked.

   • 2007, Harry Hill, He Was My Father, Rosenberg Publishing, Australia, page 124,

     When my father had shorn for the Lindleys, I had spent a day at the shed, stickybeaking at everything but making sure I didn′t upset shed activities.

   • 2009, Bryce Courtenay, The Story of Danny Dunn, volume 1, ReadHowYouWant, published 2011, 2, page 202:

     I wasn′t stickybeaking or anything, it was at the main bar and your mother mustn′t have realised I was in my usual spot.

References

• OED 2nd edition 1989