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My colleague has always something to advise, whatever you eat or play and he sometimes tries to dig out information from you and again advise on it. I just hate to get any feedback from him: if what I am eating is good or bad or how many people I am inviting on my daughter's birthday (none of his matter)!

I am looking for a word for that type of person.

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5
  • The verb is advise. Advice is a noun.
    – RegDwigнt
    May 6, 2014 at 17:35
  • I agree with you. I just posted without review.
    – Saurabh_g
    May 7, 2014 at 16:23
  • Opinionated works. Bossy also works for this meaning. Admittedly, there are nuances to whichever word you use, but in AmE these would convey your meaning well.
    – Mike
    May 25, 2014 at 11:25
  • Related.
    – tchrist ♦
    Jun 7, 2014 at 20:41
  • Around here, a person who constantly advises others might be called an ELUcidator.
    – Sven Yargs
    May 31, 2018 at 7:48

11 Answers 11

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Officious: objectionably aggressive in offering one's unrequested and unwanted services, help, or advice; meddlesome: an officious person. 2. marked by or proceeding from such forwardness: officious interference.

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3
  • That's the word I was looking for! This is the best answer.
    – Will
    May 5, 2014 at 23:25
  • 2
    @Will Is it the best answer? Or are you being officious? ;)
    – bobobobo
    May 6, 2014 at 9:16
  • Haha, well played :)
    – Will
    May 6, 2014 at 14:28
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Consider “busybody”.

And here's a better translation of your description:

My colleague always gives unwanted advice. He's always prying and commenting on things, like what I choose to eat, or what music I like. I don't like when he volunteers his opinion on things that aren't any of his business. He's such a busybody.

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  • This, or "bossy" to put a bit more of the "imposing his own rules" feeling into it.
    – Rupe
    May 25, 2014 at 13:23
6

I guess you are thinking about: Mr. know it all

Someone who believes they've got the answer to every question even if the question hasn't been asked or if they really don't have the answer (... but of course they believe they do). This is not a shy individual, but rather someone whose ego is over flowing primarily through their mouth, but seems to have come from the other end of their digestive system.

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  • 4
    In my experience, the "Mr." is optional.
    – eshimoniak
    May 5, 2014 at 23:27
2

Stickybeak, perhaps? Though that might not be as commonly used in America as in Australia.

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  • Never heard this before (from the UK) but I like it :)
    – Adsy
    May 6, 2014 at 9:52
  • I like it too! But busybody probably does have a more negative feel towards it.
    – Mogginson
    May 8, 2014 at 0:47
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Just imposing would carry the meaning. "He is imposing", or "he is an imposing person" means that he tends to impose his opinion on people.

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  • I think imposing today is meant more often to describe someone with great presence: "the young squire stood before the king, his company of knights standing at his side, imposing in their gleaming armor and silent reverie." In this case it's almost the opposite of what you suggest, because the imposing people are silent, rather than nosey.
    – TylerH
    May 6, 2014 at 13:02
  • +1. I like it. it's simple, elegant, to the point. verb (used with object), imposed, imposing. 1. to lay on or set as something to be borne, endured, obeyed, fulfilled, paid, etc.: to impose taxes. 2.to put or set by or as if by authority: to impose one's personal preference on others. 3.to obtrude or thrust (oneself, one's company, etc.) upon others. 4.to pass or palm off fraudulently or deceptively: He imposed his pretentious books on the public.
    – Chowzen
    Aug 16, 2016 at 21:26
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Meddlesome or "know it all" works probably best for informal and non-work related situations.
If it is someone who likes to force his/her way of working/thinking on to work-related issues officious seems to me more appropriate.

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1

One term that seems to apply here is buttinsky (sometimes spelled buttinski or butinski):

n. One who is prone to butting in; a meddler

Source: theFreeDictionary.com

It's slang, and it may not be common outside the US, but it might work in your case.

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This requires the use of metaphor, but would generally be understood in context. The image is of a passenger fussing, unsolicited, about a driver's speed, chosen route, follow distance, etc.

backseat driver

noun [ C ] US /ˈbækˌsit ˈdrɑɪ·vər/

a person who gives unwanted advice or criticism, esp. to the driver of a car

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A person that wants to impose his rules everywhere and advise is a peremptory person.

leaving no opportunity for denial or refusal; imperious; positive or assertive in speech, tone, manner, etc.

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0

The word you are looking for is a control freak, a person who feels an obsessive need to exercise control over themselves and others and to take command of any situation.

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-1

The word you are looking for is "condescending". It's a person who thinks he knows everything and gives advice without someone asking for it.

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  • Welcome to ELU, can you please add sources to your answer to substantiate your claim. You can also have a look at the help center to find out about good answers.
    – Helmar
    Aug 16, 2016 at 21:01

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