pettifogger

1 9.9

A person who argues over small unimportant details and uses unfair tricks

noun
/ˈpɛtɪˌfɔɡər/

Offensive

: picapleitos (despectivo, arcaico)

She dismissed him as a pettifogger because he focused on trivial regulations instead of addressing the real problems in the policy.

Examples

Posted by: Pettifogger at December 21, 2011, 12:19 PM

Blog text (29)
As a lawyer, his reputation as a pettifogger stemmed from his tendency to argue over insignificant details rather than the core issues of the case.
Everyone knew that the politician was a pettifogger, constantly using underhanded tactics to undermine his opponents over minor disagreements.

Synonyms

shyster

vspettifogger

Offensive

14 9.9

A person, often a lawyer or politician, who acts dishonestly to get what they want

is more about petty objections and small dishonest tricks

wrangler

vspettifogger

Informal

3 8.1

A person who argues loudly about small unimportant things

tends instead to split hairs and at times use unethical moves

niggler

vspettifogger

1 9.9

A person who complains a lot about small details

is more likely to include shady tactics in small matters

squabbler

vspettifogger

1 7.6

A person who often argues about small, unimportant things

is less about open fighting and more about petty trickery

quibbler

vspettifogger

Offensive

7.9

A person who complains about small unimportant details to avoid the main issue

also may use unethical tactics but focuses on minor disputes

caviler

vspettifogger

9.8

A person who complains about small, unimportant faults in what others say

often adds dishonest or unethical methods in minor cases

Antonyms

straight shooter

Informal

13 3.7

A person who tells the truth in a direct, honest way

How Petty

pettifogger

Offensive

1 9.9

nitpicker

1 6.9

quibbler

Offensive

7.9

Surface Forms

pettifogger singular

pettifoggers plural

Morphology

pettifogger = pettifog (transparent) = pettifog + er

The noun is formed regularly from the verb 'pettifog' plus '-er', meaning a person who does that action.

Etymology

The word pettifogger comes from petty ('small') and fog ('mist' that hides), and it was used for a lawyer who used small, confusing tricks. A helpful way to remember it is to think of someone making a 'fog' of words over 'small' points, so a pettifogger today is a person who argues over tiny details or uses dishonest tricks.