pry on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pry on" is not correct in standard written English.
You may be looking for "pry into" or "pry on someone," which can be used when referring to intruding into someone's private matters or seeking information in a nosy manner. Example: "I don't appreciate it when you pry into my personal life."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Do you surreptitiously run searches on rival businesses or pry on unrequited love interests, all in the name of research?

Forbes

He said voicemail interception had been easy to do and that journalists would use it to "pry on things".

BBC

Learn more about Pry on the project's website, and check it out on the App Store by clicking here. .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Human figures crouch and kneel on the grass and behind bushes in a Tokyo park at night prying on couples having furtive sex on the ground.

The Guardian - Arts

Until that happens, criminals will still be out there taking advantage of the situation and prying on unsuspecting website owners.

TechCrunch

In what seems to be an almost inexcusable oversight, it appears that the pattern lock (the thing that keeps prying eyes from prying) on AT&T's version of the Samsung Galaxy S II is… pretty much useless.

TechCrunch

If you squeeze really hard, the cap will fly off without even prying on it: then, you can even do this trick with a hard lighter.

WikiHow

They would know about your movement all along and it has been seen that the intruders are prying on social media about their targets and seek an opportunity to intrude their house in their absence.

WikiHow

This is drama but Kechiche comes far closer to his characters than even the most probing and prying fly-on-the-wall-documentary director.

Independent

Thieves are more likely to steal iPhones than they are Androids, although they are starting to pry more on Samsung Smartphones.

WikiHow

Gently pull or pry upward on the blade to help pull the glue up from the photo.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey intrusion or nosiness, opt for the more grammatically sound and widely accepted phrase "pry into" or alternatives like "snoop on".

Common error

Avoid using "pry on" as it is not standard English. Ensure you use the correct preposition, such as "into", to accurately convey the meaning of intruding into someone's private affairs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pry on" is primarily used as a verb phrase, but its usage is considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, a more appropriate construction would be ""pry into"".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pry on" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As flagged by Ludwig AI, the correct form would be ""pry into"" or using alternative phrases like "snoop on" or "intrude on". While instances of its usage can be found, mainly in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, it's best to avoid "pry on" in formal writing. Always opt for the grammatically sound alternative, ensuring clarity and accuracy in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pry into

Replaces the preposition to correctly express intrusion into someone's affairs.

snoop on

Uses a different verb to describe secretive observation.

intrude on

Emphasizes the act of interrupting or disturbing someone's privacy.

look into

Suggests a formal investigation or examination.

delve into

Implies a thorough and detailed investigation.

investigate

A formal term for examining facts to establish the truth.

poke around

Suggests a casual and informal search or investigation.

nose around

Implies nosy or overly curious behavior.

dig into

Suggests uncovering hidden information through persistent effort.

check up on

Focuses on monitoring someone's activities or well-being.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say someone is being nosy?

Instead of saying someone is trying to "pry on" you, a more appropriate phrase would be to say they are trying to "pry into" your personal life, or that they're being nosy.

What can I say instead of "pry on"?

You can use alternatives like "snoop on", "intrude on", or "look into" depending on the context.

Is "pry on" grammatically correct?

No, "pry on" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct phrasing would typically be ""pry into"".

How can I use "pry into" in a sentence?

You can use ""pry into"" to describe someone intruding or investigating private matters, such as "I don't appreciate people who pry into my personal business".