Beginner English Vocabulary: Maybe, Right, Under, Business, Home

What does “mind your own business” mean?

People say mind your own business when they want you to stop being nosy. It means “this is not your problem, so do not ask about it” or “stop watching what I do.” You can say it when someone reads your phone or listens to your private call. It is a little rude, so use it with care. A softer joke version is “mind your own beeswax.” The saying is very old and very common.

In the clip, a man stands near a woman on the phone and listens. The teacher says, “This guy is not minding his own business.” Then: “Mind your own business. Don’t listen to this woman on the phone.” So the man should stop listening to a call that is not his.