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to pry
01
to apply force in an attempt to open, separate, or move something
Transitive: to pry sth somewhere
Example
They used a stick to pry the lid off the crate, which was nailed down tightly.
The workers pried the old nails out of the wooden planks to salvage them.
She had to pry the phone from his hands, as he was refusing to let go.
02
to look at something with great curiosity or interest, especially when it involves something private or hidden
Intransitive
Example
I noticed him prying at the letters on my desk, clearly trying to figure out what I was doing.
She caught him prying through her drawers, looking for something he had no right to touch.
He would often pry into the contents of other people ’s bags, wondering what they were hiding.
03
to obtain something, especially information, with effort or difficulty
Transitive: to pry sth out of sb
Example
She had to pry the truth out of him, as he was hesitant to share any details.
The detective pried the confession out of the suspect, using clever questions and pressure.
He felt guilty for having to pry personal details out of his friends, but it was necessary.
04
to ask personal or unwanted questions
Intransitive: to pry | to pry into a subject
Example
Nosy neighbors may pry into the affairs of others, seeking gossip.
Journalists sometimes pry into the personal lives of public figures to uncover scandals.
It is considered impolite to pry into someone's financial situation without their consent.
Pry
01
a heavy iron lever with one end forged into a wedge
