prying(形容词/动名词)常指爱打听的、窥探隐私的;也可作 pry 的现在分词,表示撬开、费力打开或探查。日常最常用的是“爱窥探的/爱打听的”这一义。
/ˈpraɪ.ɪŋ/
She was tired of her neighbors’ prying questions.
她厌倦了邻居们爱打听的提问。
With journalists prying into his private life, he avoided public events and kept his circle small.
在记者不断窥探他的私生活时,他避免参加公开活动,并刻意缩小社交圈。
prying 来自动词 pry(撬、撬开;打探),与“用力撬动以打开缝隙”的动作有关;由此引申为“把不该知道的事情也硬要‘撬’出来”,形成“窥探、爱打听”的含义。