Aha, so THAT'S what it means! He poked around where he wasn't supposed to be, right?

...meddled where he shouldn't have... (without TO) and that's why...

Thank you!

Welcome, Uly ) Yes, and it's not literally but figuratively.

We say "Не лезь", meaning "Don't meddle in my affairs"

Can' t even recollect even one case in my life when I used the phrase in its direct meaning, that is , to climb/go/get where not needed.

Vladislav, "Не влезай - убьет", for example (about electricity). Also parents may say to their children "Не лезь, куда не следует" - this is also literally.

The example I got for this verb was Мне пришлось лезть через забор. I had to climb over the fence. Do people actually say that, or is there a better verb for CLIMB?

Elena: *That's figurative/literal

Uly, clear, figurative/ literal, thank you.
Лезть через забор is to climb over a fence

Yes, but Vladislav said he can't remember the last time he actually used лезть with the literal meaning, so I'm wondering if you normally use another verb.

Of course we use this verb normally as in your example but when we say "Не лезь" it can mean "Don't meddle with other people's affairs" and also "Don't go somewhere" Parents can say to their children" Не лезь в грязь" meaning "Don't go over muddy places" (? is this correct)

Thank you :)

My pleasure:)