Definition of pettifog in English:

pettifog

verbpettifogged, pettifogging, pettifogs ˈpɛtɪfɒɡ

[no object]archaic

1Quibble about petty points.
〈古〉吹毛求疵，挑剔
without lifetime careers to preserve, congressmen would be free to debate rather than pettifog
Synonyms
minor criticism, trivial objection, trivial complaint, adverse comment, protest, query, argument, exception, moan, grumble, grouse, cavil
find fault with, raise trivial objections to, complain about, object to, cavil at, carp about
1. 1.1 Practise legal deception or trickery.
  法律欺诈，欺骗
  he will rather pettifog and turn common barrator than be out of employment
  Example sentencesExamples
  He probably thought the auditors were pettifogging about practices ‘everyone does’ and that different auditors wouldn't be so picky.
  They have obfuscated, delayed, lied, backtracked, pettifogged, and cancelled all sorts of commitments under the informal and formal rubrics of the Oslo process.

Derivatives

pettifoggery

noun ˈpɛtɪˌfɒɡəri

archaic

Seeing through Julia's pettifoggery, the judge overruled her frivolous objection.
Example sentencesExamples
- The theological pettifoggery of their literalistic religion has to be read to be believed.
- Pettifoggery has come to mean legal chicanery, and last week a Senate subcommittee consultant used the word to describe a weakness of U.S. negotiators in dealing with Communist powers.

Origin

Early 17th century: back-formation from pettifogger.

Definition of pettifog in US English:

pettifog

verb

[no object]archaic

1Quibble about petty points.
〈古〉吹毛求疵，挑剔
without lifetime careers to preserve, congressmen would be free to debate rather than pettifog
Synonyms
minor criticism, trivial objection, trivial complaint, adverse comment, protest, query, argument, exception, moan, grumble, grouse, cavil
find fault with, raise trivial objections to, complain about, object to, cavil at, carp about
1. 1.1 Practice legal deception or trickery.
  法律欺诈，欺骗
  he will rather pettifog and turn common barrator than be out of employment
  Example sentencesExamples
  He probably thought the auditors were pettifogging about practices ‘everyone does’ and that different auditors wouldn't be so picky.
  They have obfuscated, delayed, lied, backtracked, pettifogged, and cancelled all sorts of commitments under the informal and formal rubrics of the Oslo process.

Origin

Early 17th century: back-formation from pettifogger.

词汇	pettifog
释义	Definition of pettifog in English: pettifog verbpettifogged, pettifogging, pettifogs ˈpɛtɪfɒɡ [no object]archaic 1Quibble about petty points. 〈古〉吹毛求疵，挑剔 without lifetime careers to preserve, congressmen would be free to debate rather than pettifog Synonyms minor criticism, trivial objection, trivial complaint, adverse comment, protest, query, argument, exception, moan, grumble, grouse, cavil find fault with, raise trivial objections to, complain about, object to, cavil at, carp about 1.1 Practise legal deception or trickery. 法律欺诈，欺骗 he will rather pettifog and turn common barrator than be out of employment Example sentencesExamples He probably thought the auditors were pettifogging about practices ‘everyone does’ and that different auditors wouldn't be so picky. They have obfuscated, delayed, lied, backtracked, pettifogged, and cancelled all sorts of commitments under the informal and formal rubrics of the Oslo process. Derivatives pettifoggery noun ˈpɛtɪˌfɒɡəri archaic Seeing through Julia's pettifoggery, the judge overruled her frivolous objection. Example sentencesExamples The theological pettifoggery of their literalistic religion has to be read to be believed. Pettifoggery has come to mean legal chicanery, and last week a Senate subcommittee consultant used the word to describe a weakness of U.S. negotiators in dealing with Communist powers. Origin Early 17th century: back-formation from pettifogger. Definition of pettifog in US English: pettifog verb [no object]archaic 1Quibble about petty points. 〈古〉吹毛求疵，挑剔 without lifetime careers to preserve, congressmen would be free to debate rather than pettifog Synonyms minor criticism, trivial objection, trivial complaint, adverse comment, protest, query, argument, exception, moan, grumble, grouse, cavil find fault with, raise trivial objections to, complain about, object to, cavil at, carp about 1.1 Practice legal deception or trickery. 法律欺诈，欺骗 he will rather pettifog and turn common barrator than be out of employment Example sentencesExamples He probably thought the auditors were pettifogging about practices ‘everyone does’ and that different auditors wouldn't be so picky. They have obfuscated, delayed, lied, backtracked, pettifogged, and cancelled all sorts of commitments under the informal and formal rubrics of the Oslo process. Origin Early 17th century: back-formation from pettifogger.
随便看	be snowed under be snowed up be soaked in be so bold be so bold as be so bold as to do be so bold as to do something be so bold as to do sth be sociable be soft on be so good as (or be good enough) to do something be so good as (or be good enough) to do something be so good as to be so good as to do be so good as to do something be so good as to do sth be solicitous for be solicitous of besom be somebody's doing be somebody's man be someone's boyfriend/girlfriend be someone's doing be someone's doing be someone's fortune/misfortune