pettifogging Definition
- 1placing undue emphasis on petty details
- 2quibbling over insignificant matters
Using pettifogging: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pettifogging" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The judge was annoyed by the pettifogging arguments of the lawyers.
Example
Don't waste time pettifogging over minor issues.
Example
The pettifogging details of the contract made it difficult to understand.
Example
He was known for his pettifogging approach to negotiations.
pettifogging Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for pettifogging
- trivial
- nitpicking
- quibbling
- captious
- hair-splitting
Antonyms for pettifogging
Phrases with pettifogging
an excessive focus on rules and regulations, often at the expense of efficiency or common sense
Example
The pettifogging bureaucracy made it difficult for the company to get anything done.
an excessive focus on legal technicalities, often at the expense of justice or fairness
Example
The pettifogging legalism of the trial made it difficult for the jury to reach a verdict.
an argument that focuses on trivial or insignificant details rather than the main issue
Example
The pettifogging argument distracted from the real problem at hand.
Origins of pettifogging
from 'petty' meaning small and 'fogger' meaning a legal case involving trivial matters
Summary: pettifogging in Brief
The term 'pettifogging' [ˈpɛtɪfɒɡɪŋ] describes an excessive focus on petty details or quibbling over insignificant matters. It is often used to criticize someone who places undue emphasis on minor issues, as in 'The pettifogging details of the contract made it difficult to understand.' 'Pettifogging' extends into phrases like 'pettifogging bureaucracy,' denoting an excessive focus on rules and regulations, and 'pettifogging legalism,' implying an excessive focus on legal technicalities.
