What it means
Means nosy or overly curious, the type who’s always craning their neck and asking for the full gossip. If you’re hovering, reading someone’s messages, or poking about where you’re not invited, you’re being nebby. Comes from neb meaning nose in Scots and North East speech. Can be affectionate for kids or pure annoyance for grown-ups.
Usage examples
"Had me head in the fridge and the lass next door’s peering over me shoulder. I just went, divvent be nebby, pet, it’s nowt to do with you."
"Don't be so nebby, it's none of your business who she's seeing."
"Our neighbour's dead nebby, she clocks everyone coming and going."
"Why's he gone all nebby over my phone screen? Mind your own, mate."
"She had the curtain twitching before the taxi had even stopped. Proper nebby, that one."
Where it comes from
Nebby comes from neb, an old Scots and North East word for your nose or beak. From there it grew into nebby for someone who keeps putting that nose into other people's business, poking, peering, and asking what wasn't meant for them.
Other ways to say it
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