meddling
meddling — noun
1. the unwanted activity of getting involved in situations or affairs that are not
the unwanted activity of getting involved in situations or affairs that are not your responsibility and where your involvement is not welcome
The neighbours complained about Mrs. Chen's constant meddling in their family arguments.
meddling + in + [something]: introduces the matter interfered with
Yumi blamed the company's meddling for the failure of the community project.
possessive + meddling: 'the company's meddling'
After years of political meddling, the local newspaper could no longer report the truth.
Kwame warned that outside meddling in the election would destroy public trust.
The school board was tired of meddling from parents who had no teaching experience.
- interference
more general and slightly more formal; can be neutral
- intrusion
stronger negative tone, suggests violating someone's privacy or space
- butting in
informal, used mainly in everyday conversation
- non-interference
formal term for staying out of others' affairs
文法句型
meddling + in + [something]
用法筆記
Almost always carries a negative connotation. Frequently paired with a possessive noun or adjective (e.g., 'government meddling', 'their meddling') and followed by 'in' to specify the area being interfered with.
常見錯誤
meddling — verb
1. to involve yourself in something that is not your business, especially when your
to involve yourself in something that is not your business, especially when your opinions or actions are unwanted
Theo told his sister to stop meddling in his relationship with his girlfriend.
meddle in [something/someone's something]: the typical pattern
Someone has been meddling with the files on my desk while I was away.
meddle with [something]: physical or procedural interference
Wei warned that foreign governments should not meddle in the country's internal affairs.
Clara regretted meddling in her brother's career choices after he lost his job.
Stop meddling with the thermostat — the temperature is fine as it is.
- interfere
more formal and can be neutral in some contexts
- tamper
specifically means to handle something physically or change settings without permission
- poke one's nose into
idiomatic and very informal
- stay out of
informal phrase meaning to avoid involvement
- mind one's own business
idiomatic opposite
文法句型
meddle + in + [something]
meddle + with + [something]
用法筆記
Never used transitively — you cannot 'meddle something'. Always requires a preposition: 'in' for affairs, situations, or relationships; 'with' for objects, settings, or physical items. The imperative 'Stop meddling!' is very common in everyday speech.