English

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Alternative forms

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pettyfog, petty-fog

Etymology

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Back-formation from pettifogger.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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pettifog (third-person singular simple present pettifogs, present participle pettifogging, simple past and past participle pettifogged)

  1. (intransitive) To quibble over trivial matters; nitpick.
    Don't pettifog or we will soon grow weary.
    • 1959 April 24, Walt Kelly, Pogo, comic strip, →ISBN, page 35:
      [Deacon Mushrat to Pogo:] The Machiavellian barratry of a pettifogging public has maundered into do-nothingism.
  2. (intransitive) To do a petty business as a lawyer, or carry out law business in a petty or tricky way.
    • S. Butler
      He is a common barreter for his pleasure, that takes no money, but pettifogs gratis.

Synonyms

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