Standard Lemma guide

stickybeak

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈstɪkibiːk/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An overly inquisitive person, a nosey parker.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Commonwealth, colloquial

Examples

  • 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.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An act of looking at or watching something, especially something which does not directly concern the one looking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Commonwealth, colloquial

Examples

  • 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.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To pry or snoop.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Commonwealth, intransitive

Examples

  • 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.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Schnüffler — nosy person
  • Māori: ihu kurī — nosy person