pettifogger Definition
- 1a person who quibbles or fusses over trifles, especially in a legal context
- 2a dishonest lawyer who uses unethical methods to win cases
Using pettifogger: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pettifogger" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The judge was tired of listening to the pettifogger's arguments.
Example
The opposing lawyer accused him of being a pettifogger.
Example
He was known as a pettifogger who would do anything to win a case.
pettifogger Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with pettifogger
pettifogging details
trivial or insignificant details that are given undue attention
Example
He spent hours arguing over pettifogging details instead of focusing on the main issue.
an excessive concern with minor legal details or technicalities
Example
The company's lawyers used pettifogging legalism to avoid paying compensation to the workers.
pettifogging tactics
dishonest or unethical tactics used by a lawyer to win a case
Example
The pettifogging tactics used by the lawyer were exposed during the trial.
Origins of pettifogger
from the word 'petty' meaning small and 'fogger' meaning a 'huckster' or 'cheat'
Summary: pettifogger in Brief
The term 'pettifogger' [ˈpɛtɪfɒɡə] refers to a person who quibbles or fusses over trifles, especially in a legal context. It can also refer to a dishonest lawyer who uses unethical methods to win cases. The term is often used in phrases like 'pettifogging details,' 'pettifogging legalism,' and 'pettifogging tactics,' which denote trivial or insignificant details, excessive concern with minor legal details or technicalities, and dishonest or unethical tactics used by a lawyer to win a case, respectively.
