quibble
To complain or argue in a trivial or petty mannerTo complain or argue in a trivial or petty manner.
» Let's not quibble over trivial matters.
Давайте не будем спорить по мелочам.
Meaning
2 senses(informal, intransitive)To complain or argue in a trivial or petty manner.
They are constantly quibbling over insignificant details.
herumstreiten, kleinlich sein
придира́тьсяpridirátʹsja
argue over petty things
(informal, rare, transitive)To contest, especially some trivial issue in a petty manner.
The customer quibbled the bill.
Examples
9 sentencesLet's not quibble over trivial matters.
ruДавайте не будем спорить по мелочам.
Don't quibble about the details.
ruНе придирайся к мелочам.
Let's not quibble.
ruДавайте без придирок.
I just have one quibble with this product.
ruУ меня есть только одна придирка к этому продукту.
This is no time to quibble over terminology.
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Origin uncertain. Possibly from quib (“quibble”, noun) + -le (diminutive ending). Quib isOrigin uncertain. Possibly from quib (“quibble”, noun) + -le (diminutive ending). Quib is probably from Latin quibus (“in what respect? how?”), which appeared frequently in legal documents and came to be suggestive of the verbosity and petty argumentation found therein; or perhaps an alteration of quip. Alternatively, perhaps related to dialectal Dutch kwebbelen (“to speak quickly and continuously, chatter”). Compare also Scots wheebele (“a quibble”).
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Forms
quibbles, quibbling, quibbled, quibbledSynonyms
5 synonymsWord family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle