- (British English)
a small criticism or complaint 轻微的批评;小牢骚 My only niggle is that they should have told me sooner. 我唯一的不满是他们应该早点告诉我。 - niggle about/over something
niggles over ticket prices 关于票价的争论
a slight feeling, such as worry, doubt, etc. that does not go away 一丝挥不去的烦恼(或疑虑等) a niggle of doubt 一丝挥之不去的疑虑 In his mind there was that same old niggle—had he done the right thing? 在他的脑海里,还是那个老黑鬼——他做得对吗?
a slight pain Topics Illnessc2轻微疼痛
Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the sense ‘do in an ineffectual way’): apparently of Scandinavian origin; compare with Norwegian nigla. Current senses date from the late 18th cent.