quibble
noun
[ ˈkwɪb(ə)l ]
• a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter.
• "the only quibble about this book is the price"
Similar:
minor criticism,
trivial objection,
trivial complaint,
adverse comment,
protest,
query,
argument,
exception,
moan,
grumble,
grouse,
cavil,
twine,
niggle,
gripe,
beef,
grouch,
nitpicking,
pettifogging,
evasion,
dodge,
avoidance,
equivocation,
prevarication,
hedging,
fudging,
• a play on words; a pun.
quibble
verb
• argue or raise objections about a trivial matter.
• "they are always quibbling about the amount they are prepared to pay"
Similar:
find fault with,
raise trivial objections to,
complain about,
object to,
cavil at,
carp about,
split hairs,
chop logic,
criticize,
query,
fault,
pick,
holes in,
nitpick,
pettifog,
be evasive,
equivocate,
avoid the issue,
prevaricate,
hedge,
fudge,
be ambiguous,
beat about the bush,
Origin:
early 17th century (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.
