definition of 

nose

• What are red words?
• Using the thesaurus

Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing.These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are morefrequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more

noun [countable]  /nəʊz/ 

Close

singular	nose
plural	noses

phrases

• get (right) up your nose

  British informal
  to annoy you a lot

  That superior attitude of his gets right up my nose.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: annoy, provoke, anger, bother, frustrate... more

• have a (good) nose for something

  to have the ability to find or recognize something

  He had a nose for a good news story.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: more

• keep your nose clean

  to behave well and not break any rules or laws

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: obey, observe, comply, respect, abide by... more

• keep your nose out

  mainly spoken
  used for telling someone that you do not want them to know about things that are private

  Keep your nose out of my business.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: (just) between you and me, mum’s the word, my lips are sealed, entre nous, never you mind... more

• nose to tail

  British
  if cars are nose to tail, they are moving slowly in a long line with not much space between them

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: more

• poke/shove/stick your nose into something

  to show too much interest in things that are someone’s private business

  You have no right to poke your nose into my affairs!

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: investigate, look into, follow up, gather, dig... more

• put someone’s nose out of joint

  to do something that will annoy someone

  She put his nose out of joint because she didn’t consult him.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: annoy, provoke, anger, bother, frustrate... more

• rub someone’s nose in something

  to keep reminding someone about something unpleasant that they do not want to think about

  I know we lost – there’s no need to rub my nose in it.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: remind, come to, bring back, recall, trigger... more

• turn your nose up (at something)

  informal
  to refuse to accept something, especially because you do not think it is good enough

  We offered her a perfectly good job, and she turned her nose up at it.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: turn down, ignore, dismiss, shoot down, push aside... more

• under someone’s nose

  if something happens under your nose, it happens in a place or situation where you should notice it, but you do not

  They were dealing drugs right under the noses of the police.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: obvious, apparent, show up, clearly, physical... more

• with your nose in the air

  with an attitude that shows that you think you are better than other people

  He walks around with his nose in the air and doesn’t talk to anyone.

  Synonyms or related words for this meaning of nose: arrogant, proud, conceited, immodest, superior... more