INDEX:
1. to interfere
2. someone who interferes too much in other people’s affairs
3. to not interfere
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ TAKE PART/BE INVOLVED
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1. to interfere
▷ interfere /ˌɪntəʳˈfɪəʳ/ [intransitive verb]
to try to influence a situation that you should not be involved in, for example by telling someone what to do or giving them advice that they do not want :
▪ I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interfere, but I didn’t want Glenda to be upset.
▪ The protestors were peaceful, and the police decided not to interfere.
interfere in
▪ She has no right to interfere in her son’s marriage.
▪ The US was accused of interfering in China’s internal affairs.
interference [uncountable noun]
when someone interferes in a situation: :
interfere from
▪ The Internet should be allowed to develop without any interference from the government.
▷ meddle /ˈmedl/ [intransitive verb]
to interfere in a situation that you do not understand or know enough about, and that someone else is responsible for dealing with :
meddle in
▪ Church leaders shouldn’t meddle in politics.
meddle with
▪ Most of us don’t know our neighbors well enough to meddle with their lives.
▷ poke/stick your nose into /ˌpəʊk, ˌstɪk jɔːʳ ˈnəʊz ɪntuː/ [verb phrase] informal
to ask questions about someone else’s private life and give them advice they do not want, in a way that annoys them :
▪ No one wants the government sticking its nose into the personal affairs of citizens.
▪ She’s one of these people who is always poking her nose into other people’s business.
▷ put/shove/stick your oar in British informal /butt in American informal /ˌpʊt, ˌʃʌv, ˌstɪk jɔːr ˈɔːr ɪn, ˌbʌt ˈɪn/ [verb phrase]
to give your opinion or advice to someone when they do not want it, because it is a private situation :
▪ I don’t want your dad over here sticking his oar in.
▷ intrude /ɪnˈtruːd/ [intransitive verb]
to become involved in someone’s private affairs when you know you have no right to be involved - use this especially when saying that you want to avoid doing this :
▪ I don’t want to intrude, but are you all right?
▪ Sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I didn’t realize you were on the phone.
intrude on
▪ It’s very important not to intrude on the family’s grief, whilst still helping with the funeral arrangements.
intrude into
▪ Companies should not have the right to intrude into employees’ personal lives by giving them psychological tests.
intrusion /ɪnˈtruːʒ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
intrude in/into
▪ The magazine has apologised for any intrusion into the actor’s private life.
intrusive /ɪnˈtruːsɪv/ [adjective]
▪ I found the reporter’s questions very intrusive.
2. someone who interferes too much in other people’s affairs
▷ busybody /ˈbɪziˌbɒdiǁ-ˌbɑːdi/ [countable noun]
someone who likes interfering in other people’s affairs, giving advice, and trying to influence what people do :
▪ I can’t believe the number of busybodies who ask me when I’m going to have another baby.
▷ do-gooder /ˌduː ˈgʊdəʳǁˈduː ˌgʊdər/ [countable noun]
someone who tries to help other people and thinks that they are being helpful - use this about someone you think is in fact causing problems and when it would be better if they did not get involved :
▪ Pearson isn’t just a do-gooder - he’s been in prison and wants to help others stay out.
▷ interfering /ˌɪntəʳˈfɪ ə rɪŋ◂/ [adjective]
someone who is interfering often tries to influence situations they should not be involved in, and annoys people by doing this :
▪ I wish that interfering brother of yours would keep out of my affairs.
▷ meddling/meddlesome /ˈmedlɪŋ, ˈmedls ə m/ [adjective only before noun]
a meddling or meddlesome person interferes in situations that they should not be involved in and do not always fully understand or know enough about :
▪ He’s skilled at dealing with meddlesome reporters.
▪ Because of the new laws, food companies are complaining about meddling government.
3. to not interfere
▷ mind your own business/it’s none of your business /ˌmaɪnd jɔːr əʊn ˈbɪznə̇s, ɪts ˌnʌn əv jɔːʳ ˈbɪznə̇s/ [verb phrase] spoken
say this when you want someone to stop interfering or asking questions about something that is private :
▪ Whitney, you just mind your own business. He can do what he wants.
▪ He wanted a copy of the will but I told him it was none of his business.
▪ I didn’t ask, because it’s none of my business really, but I was sure curious.
▷ stay/keep out of it /ˌsteɪ, ˌkiːp ˈaʊt əv ɪt/ [verb phrase] spoken informal
to not get involved in a fight or an argument between other people :
▪ It isn’t your business, you stay out of it and let her handle it.
▪ I know what I’m doing - you keep out of it.
stay/keep well out of it
not interfere at all British
▪ They’re always arguing about money, but I try to stay well out of it.
▷ be/have nothing to do with also not have anything to do with somebody /biː, hæv ˌnʌθɪŋ tə ˈduː wɪð somebody, nɒt hæv ˌeniθɪŋ tə ˈduː wɪð somebody/ [verb phrase]
if a situation has nothing to do with someone, it is very personal and private, and that person has no right to interfere in it :
▪ I really shouldn’t have told her about it - it had nothing to do with her, really.
▪ Back off and let me handle it. It’s nothing to do with you.
▷ leave/let well alone British /leave/let well enough alone American /liːv, let ˌwel əˈləʊn, liːv, let ˌwel ɪnʌf əˈləʊn/ [verb phrase] spoken
to not interfere or try to change a situation, because you might make it worse than before :
▪ I should have left well enough alone, and never told my parents what had happened at all.
▪ Once you’ve finished a project, leave well alone and go on to the next one.