split\ hairs

split\ hairs
v. phr.
To find and argue about small and unimportant differences as if the differences are important.

John is always splitting hairs; he often starts an argument about something small and unimportant.

Don't split hairs about whose turn it is to wash the dishes and make the beds; let's work together and finish sooner.

••
to disagree or argue over smth unimportant (hairsplitting)

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • split hairs — If people split hairs, they concentrate on tiny and unimportant details to find fault with something …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • split hairs — index bicker, pettifog Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • split hairs — ► split hairs make overfine distinctions. Main Entry: ↑hair …   English terms dictionary

  • split hairs — QUIBBLE, cavil, carp, niggle, chop logic; informal nit pick; archaic pettifog. → hair   QUIBBLE, cavil, carp, niggle, chop logic; informal nit pick; archaic pettifog. → …   Useful english dictionary

  • split hairs —    If people split hairs, they concentrate on tiny and unimportant details to find fault with something.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    If you split hairs, you pay too much attention to differences that are very small or unimportant.     …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • split hairs — 1. noun Tedious details; minutiae. The Microsoft trial had been in danger of slipping out of the public eye. Its endless procession of less than riveting economics professors and forgetful executives, mixed with scads of legal and technical split …   Wiktionary

  • split hairs — {v. phr.} To find and argue about small and unimportant differences as if the differences are important. * /John is always splitting hairs; he often starts an argument about something small and unimportant./ * /Don t split hairs about whose turn… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • split hairs — {v. phr.} To find and argue about small and unimportant differences as if the differences are important. * /John is always splitting hairs; he often starts an argument about something small and unimportant./ * /Don t split hairs about whose turn… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • split hairs — be very fussy, notice small differences    Clyde likes to work on research that requires him to split hairs …   English idioms

  • split hairs — make unnecessary distinctions He makes a lot of good points but he also has a tendency to split hairs and waste a lot of our time …   Idioms and examples

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”