quibble
An argument or objection based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstanceAn argument or objection based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstance; a minor complaint.
Recorded: Commander Keane, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
» Let's not quibble over trivial matters.
Давайте не будем спорить по мелочам. — shanghainese
CM · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRTranslations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Examples
9 sentencesLet's not quibble over trivial matters.
ruДавайте не будем спорить по мелочам. — shanghainese
Don't quibble about the details.
ruНе придирайся к мелочам. — venticello
Let's not quibble.
ruДавайте без придирок. — Inego
Meaning
2 sensesAn argument or objection based on an ambiguity of wording or similar trivial circumstance; a minor complaint.
He harped on his quibble about how the dark red paint should be described as carmine rather than burgundy.
kleinliche Kritik, Spitzfindigkeit, Haarspalterei
приди́ркаpridírka
(archaic)A pun.
- an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections
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”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: quibblesSynonyms
41 synonymsSee also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.