pry
pry /pr'aɪ/ (pries prying pried)
1 [VERB] V into n, V, V-ing
If someone pries, they try to find out about someone else's private affairs, or look at their personal possessions.
We do not want people prying into our affairs...
Imelda might think she was prying...
She thought she was safe from prying eyes and could do as she wished.
2 [VERB] V n with adj, V n prep, V n with adv
If you pry something open or pry it away from a surface, you force it open or away from a surface.
They pried open a sticky can of blue paint...
I pried the top off a can of chilli...
Prying off the plastic lid, she took out a small scoop.
= prize
3 [VERB] V n from/out of n
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; in BRIT, usually use prize)
...their attempts to pry the names from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
1 [VERB] V into n, V, V-ing
If someone pries, they try to find out about someone else's private affairs, or look at their personal possessions.
We do not want people prying into our affairs...
Imelda might think she was prying...
She thought she was safe from prying eyes and could do as she wished.
2 [VERB] V n with adj, V n prep, V n with adv
If you pry something open or pry it away from a surface, you force it open or away from a surface.
They pried open a sticky can of blue paint...
I pried the top off a can of chilli...
Prying off the plastic lid, she took out a small scoop.
= prize
3 [VERB] V n from/out of n
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; in BRIT, usually use prize)
...their attempts to pry the names from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.