quibble

verb

/ˈkwɪbl/

[intransitive]

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they quibble	/ˈkwɪbl/ /ˈkwɪbl/
he / she / it quibbles	/ˈkwɪblz/ /ˈkwɪblz/
past simple quibbled	/ˈkwɪbld/ /ˈkwɪbld/
past participle quibbled	/ˈkwɪbld/ /ˈkwɪbld/
-ing form quibbling	/ˈkwɪblɪŋ/ /ˈkwɪblɪŋ/

jump to other results

quibble (about/over something) to argue or complain about a small matter or an unimportant detail（为小事）争论，发牢骚；斤斤计较；吹毛求疵
- It isn't worth quibbling over such a small amount.不值得为这样的小数目斤斤计较。
Topics Opinion and argumentc2
Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the sense ‘play on words, pun’): diminutive of obsolete quib ‘a petty objection’, probably from Latin quibus, dative and ablative plural of qui, quae, quod ‘who, what, which’, frequently used in legal documents and so associated with subtle distinctions or verbal niceties.

noun

/ˈkwɪbl/

jump to other results

a small complaint or criticism, especially one that is not important（无足轻重的）抱怨，牢骚，批评
- minor quibbles小牢骚
- The only quibble about this book is the lack of colour illustrations.对这本书唯一的不满是缺少彩色插图。
- The machine comes with a three-year no quibble guarantee.这台机器有三年无瑕疵担保。
Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the sense ‘play on words, pun’): diminutive of obsolete quib ‘a petty objection’, probably from Latin quibus, dative and ablative plural of qui, quae, quod ‘who, what, which’, frequently used in legal documents and so associated with subtle distinctions or verbal niceties.