kaypoh /gay-poh, ˈɡeɪpəʊ/ n. & a. [Hk. (?) 耆(老) ké (ló) old people + (?) 婆 pô the epithet of an old woman (Medhurst); Mand. (?) qí over sixty years of age, very old + (?) pó old woman (Chi.–Eng. Dict.)] Also kay poh, kay-poh.  A. n. One who is nosy or prying; one who meddles in others’ affairs; a nosy-parker.  B. a. Nosy, prying.
A 2006 Lim Boon Hee Today, 25 July, 19 Vigilantism can cut both ways: Fine line between kindliness, kaypoh-ness [title].. [T]oo much vigilantism will result in a self-righteousness society where kaypohs pick on everything they don’t approve of in the name of creating more civil living.  2015 Ignatius Low The Sunday Times (Life), 26 July, C8 When I was growing up, the No. 1 rule drilled into my sister and me by my parents was “don’t be a kaypoh”, meaning, don’t go poking your nose into someone else’s affairs.  B 1985 Michael Chiang Army Daze 72 Your every move is monitored by umpteen pairs of kay-poh eyes.  1991 Valerie Tan The Straits Times (Section 3), 9 August, 19 kay poh – nosy.  2000 Angelena Lim The Straits Times (Computer Times), 26 January, 23 According to legend, beautiful but ‘kaypoh’ Pandora is given a box by the gods and told not to open it.  2000 Suzanne Sng The Straits Times (Life!), 2 May, 18 His questions stop short of being too kaypoh.  2001 Neil Humphreys Notes from an Even Smaller Island 114–115 Ironically, the only thing that does seem to bring HDB neighbours together is a good old-fashioned crime. As soon as a police siren is heard screaming outside your block, doors and front grilles are opened and before you can say ‘kaypoh’, the corridor is brimming with eagle-eyed neighbours.  2001 Suzanne Sng The Straits Times (Life! This Weekend), 1 February, 3 The Chinese New Year is almost over. .. The kaypoh relatives have stopped commenting on how tall you’ve grown.

A highlight from the Appeals List

kueh pie tee — what do the words pie tee mean, and what language are they in?

Back to the home page