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.
» Let's not quibble over trivial matters.
Давайте не будем спорить по мелочам.
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
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
I just have one quibble with this product.
ruУ меня есть только одна придирка к этому продукту. — shanghainese
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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