pettifog

English

Alternative forms

pettyfog, petty-fog

Etymology

Back-formation from pettifogger.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛt.iˌfɒɡ/

Verb

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

• See Thesaurus:squabble

Related terms

• pettifogger