pry

pry
[[t]pra͟ɪ[/t]]
pries, prying, pried
1) VERB If someone pries, they try to find out about someone else's private affairs, or look at their personal possessions.

[V into n] We do not want people prying into our affairs...

Imelda might think she was prying...

[V-ing] She thought she was safe from prying eyes and could do as she wished.

Syn:
2) VERB If you pry something open or pry it away from a surface, you force it open or away from a surface.

[V n with adj] They pried open a sticky can of blue paint...

[V n prep] I pried the top off a can of chilli...

[V n with adv] Prying off the plastic lid, she took out a small scoop.

Syn:
3) VERB If you pry something such as information out of someone, you persuade them to tell you although they may be very unwilling to. [mainly AM]

[V n from/out of n] ...their attempts to pry the names from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

(in BRIT, usually use prize)

English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • pry — [ praı ] verb 1. ) intransitive to be interested in someone s personal life in a way that is annoying or offensive: I just glanced at the letter; I didn t mean to pry. pry into: The press continues to pry into their affairs. prying eyes (=people… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • pry — [praı] v past tense and past participle pried present participle prying third person singular pries [Sense: 1,3; Date: 1300 1400; Origin: Origin unknown] [Sense: 2,4; Date: 1800 1900; Origin: prize to force up (17 21 centuries), from prize lever… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Pry — Pry …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Pry — Pry, To Saltar a navegación, búsqueda «Pry, To» Canción de Pearl Jam Álbum Vitalogy Publicación 1994 Gr …   Wikipedia Español

  • Pry — Pry, v. i. [OE. prien. Cf. {Peer} to peep.] To peep narrowly; to gaze; to inspect closely; to attempt to discover something by a scrutinizing curiosity; often implying reproach. To pry upon the stars. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Watch thou and wake… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pry — Pry, n. [Corrupted fr. prize a lever. See {Prize}, n.] A lever; also, leverage. [Local, U. S. & Eng.] [1913 Webster] {Pry pole}, the pole which forms the prop of a hoisting gin, and stands facing the windlass. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pry — Pry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pried}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prying}.] To raise or move, or attempt to raise or move, with a pry or lever; to prize. [Local, U. S. & Eng.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pry — pry·ing·ly; pry·ler; pry; …   English syllables

  • pry — pry1 [prī] n. pl. pries [back form. < PRIZE2] 1. a tool for raising or moving something by leverage; lever, crowbar, etc. 2. leverage vt. pried, prying 1. to raise, move, or force with a pry …   English World dictionary

  • Pry — Pry, n. Curious inspection; impertinent peeping. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pry — [v1] interfere in someone else’s business be a busybody*, be all ears*, be curious, be inquisitive, be nosy, bug*, ferret out, gape, gaze, hunt, inquire, intrude, investigate, listen in, meddle, nose, peek, peep, peer, poke, poke nose into*,… …   New thesaurus

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