Pettifog

Pronunciation: /ˈpɛtɪˌfɔɡ/

Definitions of pettifog

verb to quibble over insignificant details or argue in a petty way

Example Sentences

A1 She pettifogs about every little detail, making it difficult to reach a decision.

A2 The lawyer tried to pettifog the case by bringing up irrelevant points.

B1 The politician was known for his tendency to pettifog during debates.

B2 The CEO's constant pettifogging caused delays in the project.

C1 The lawyer's pettifogging tactics were seen as unethical by the court.

C2 The professor's pettifogging over grading criteria frustrated the students.

Examples of pettifog in a Sentence

formal The lawyer tried to pettifog the details of the contract to confuse the jury.

informal Don't try to pettifog your way out of this, just tell the truth.

slang Stop pettifogging and just admit that you made a mistake.

figurative She always tries to pettifog the truth to make herself look better.

Grammatical Forms of pettifog

• past tense: pettifogged
• plural: pettifogs
• comparative: more pettifogging
• superlative: most pettifogging
• present tense: pettifogs
• future tense: will pettifog
• perfect tense: have pettifogged
• continuous tense: is pettifogging
• singular: pettifog
• positive degree: pettifog
• infinitive: to pettifog
• gerund: pettifogging
• participle: pettifogged

Origin and Evolution of pettifog

First Known Use: 1590 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The word 'pettifog' originated from the combination of 'petty', meaning small or insignificant, and 'fog', which referred to a hazy or confused state. It was used to describe lawyers who engaged in dishonest or unethical practices.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'pettifog' has evolved to also encompass anyone who uses legalistic or underhanded tactics to argue or negotiate in a contentious manner.