stop meddling

USAGE SUMMARY

"stop meddling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to politely ask someone to stop interfering or taking part in something which is not their business. For example: "Please stop meddling in my affairs. I can handle this problem on my own."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Will he stop meddling in Ukraine?

The Economist

Indeed, some of his former supporters told him to stop meddling in national politics for good.

The Economist

Torre said he had no assurances that Steinbrenner would stop meddling.

The New York Times - Sports

"I understand perfectly," my mother would say — meaning, Leave us alone and stop meddling, we're do­ing just fine.

The New Yorker

The goal of the first two rounds was to persuade Mr Putin to stop meddling in eastern Ukraine.

The Economist

Hitherto, Iran had demanded that the superpower should stop meddling and let the region shape its own destiny.

The Economist

The BBC creative director, Alan Yentob, today told the government to stop meddling in the corporation's affairs.

The Guardian

If having an independent county government makes sense shouldn't Albany stop meddling in the decision-making process of Westchester?

The New York Times

"I understand perfectly," my mother would say meaning, Leave us alone and stop meddling, we're do­ing just fine.

The New Yorker

Lawmakers should reject these destructive ideas and stop meddling in the affairs of this important financial institution, which serves 8.4 million rural women.

The New York Times

After the chaos in Iraq and the stalemate in Afghanistan, it is surely time to stop meddling in other countries, which only breeds resentment and more terrorism.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stop meddling" when you want to directly and firmly ask someone to cease unwanted interference in a situation. It's best used when the interference is clear and causing problems.

Common error

While "stop meddling" is widely understood, it can sound too informal or accusatory in professional settings. Opt for phrases like "cease intervention" or "refrain from interfering" in such situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stop meddling" functions primarily as an imperative, directly commanding someone to cease interference. It is often used to express frustration or assert boundaries, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stop meddling" is a common imperative phrase used to directly request someone to cease unwanted interference. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While it appears mainly in news and media contexts, its level of formality can vary. For professional environments, using more formal alternatives is recommended. The phrase serves the purpose of protecting boundaries and expressing disapproval of unwanted intervention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cease interfering

Focuses more directly on the act of interference.

refrain from interfering

Emphasizes a conscious decision to avoid involvement.

quit interfering

More informal and direct, suggesting annoyance.

discontinue intervention

More formal and suggests an ongoing process of intervention.

desist from intervening

Formal and emphasizes the act of stepping into a situation.

don't get involved

Suggests avoiding entanglement in a situation.

stay out of it

Informal and emphasizes keeping distance from a situation.

hands off

Informal, short, and direct command to not touch or interfere.

leave it alone

Suggests something is being handled poorly and should be left untouched.

mind your own business

Direct and can be considered rude, emphasizing privacy.

FAQs

How to use "stop meddling" in a sentence?

You can use "stop meddling" as a direct command, such as "Please "stop meddling" in my personal life". It's used to tell someone to cease interfering.

What can I say instead of "stop meddling"?

You can use alternatives like "cease interfering", "refrain from interfering", or "stay out of it" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "stop meddling"?

It's appropriate when you want to firmly and directly tell someone to stop interfering in a situation that is causing problems. However, consider the formality of the situation and the relationship with the person you're addressing.

Is "stop meddling" considered rude?

It can be, depending on your tone and the context. Using a softer approach or alternative phrasing, such as "could you please give us some space", might be more appropriate in certain situations.