to pettifog
- verb
- /ˈpɛtɪˌfɔg/
- Archaic
:
discutir
- The lawyer seemed to pettifog in court, focusing on insignificant points rather than the case's core arguments.
Examples
-
Instead of addressing the main issues, they chose to pettifog over minor details during the meeting.
-
Rather than making a decision, he preferred to pettifog about irrelevant rules and regulations.
-
They sacrifice their own integrity on behalf of the faith that is melting away beneath them, even as they continue to pettifog and prevaricate in its defense.
Academic text (2007)
Synonyms
36
4.1
Argue again and again with someone about small unimportant things
35
2.6
To argue angrily with someone about small things
26
7.0
To argue about small unimportant details to avoid the main point
25
4.9
To have a short, unimportant argument with someone
18
4.4
To argue loudly about small unimportant things
6
6.8
To argue loudly for a long time
5
4.1
To have a small fight about something unimportant
2
9.9
To argue loudly with someone and continue for a long time
1
8.2
To argue about very small, unimportant details
1
9.9
To argue in a stubborn way about small unimportant details
To disagree angrily about small, unimportant things
To argue loudly about small unimportant things
Argue a little about something, like where to eat
Antonyms
How Petty
- Archaic
26
7.0
Surface Forms
Etymology
Pettifog probably joins petty 'small' and fog 'a cloud' or 'to confuse', so think of small 'clouds' of argument that hide the main point. That's why to pettifog is to argue about tiny, unimportant details or to nitpick in a way that confuses or delays.