persnickety
pedantic, over-concerned with detail
TRANSLATION
persnickety = pingelig, penibel, pedantisch, etepetete Google Hits: persnickety 3.610.000
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
It’s an argument every PERSNICKETY homeowner has had: Should the end of the
toilet paper hang over the top of the roll or be tucked underneath it?
We may finally have an answer, courtesy of an 1891 patent by New York businessman Seth Wheeler.
The Reader's Digest
We may finally have an answer, courtesy of an 1891 patent by New York businessman Seth Wheeler.
The Reader's Digest
Did you
know?
persnickety (U.S.)
adjective (informal)
- fussy about small details
- having the characteristics of a snob
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persnickety
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pernickety (U.K)
adjective (informal)
Placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pernickety
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ORIGIN
Persnickety people like things neat and tidy, but the etymology of persnickety doesn't provide the kind of clean, clear explanation that appeals to the fastidious.
"Persnickety" was first documented in English in 1892 as an alteration of "pernickety," a word that has the same meaning.
"Pernickety" goes back to the early 1800s, but from there, the word's "history" gets messy. Some say "pernickety" might be from a child's version of "particular"; others, that the "nick" part came from association with "knick-knack."
Or perhaps the Latin prefix per-, meaning "thoroughly, played a role. But it's all pure conjecture - no one knows for sure.
Merriam-Webster
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SYNONYMS for PERSNICKETY
careful, choosy, demanding, difficult to please, exacting, fastidious, finicky, fussy, hair-splitting, nitpicking, overparticular, particular, picky, picky-picky
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START AN INTERESTING OWAD CONVERSATION TODAY
Hey Jim, how PERSNICKETY are you about toilet paper rolls? Guess what percent of people prefer the paper hanging over, compared to tucking it under."
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The answer is “over” — no surprise to the estimated 70 percent of wipers who already prefer this position, according to cnet.com. Proponents say an “over” roll provides easier access to the free end of the toilet paper and minimizes the risk of knuckle-on-wall germ gathering.
The vehement 30 percent in the “under” camp counter that their position gives a tidier appearance and makes paper less prone to pet attacks.
Read the full article here:
https://goo.gl/fXpwnP
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DROP ME A LINE
Want to make a comment about today's word or share a PERSNICKETY experience? Write to me personally at: paul.paradoxing@gmail.com I'm always delighted to hear from you.
adjective (informal)
- fussy about small details
- having the characteristics of a snob
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/persnickety
---
pernickety (U.K)
adjective (informal)
Placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pernickety
---
ORIGIN
Persnickety people like things neat and tidy, but the etymology of persnickety doesn't provide the kind of clean, clear explanation that appeals to the fastidious.
"Persnickety" was first documented in English in 1892 as an alteration of "pernickety," a word that has the same meaning.
"Pernickety" goes back to the early 1800s, but from there, the word's "history" gets messy. Some say "pernickety" might be from a child's version of "particular"; others, that the "nick" part came from association with "knick-knack."
Or perhaps the Latin prefix per-, meaning "thoroughly, played a role. But it's all pure conjecture - no one knows for sure.
Merriam-Webster
---
SYNONYMS for PERSNICKETY
careful, choosy, demanding, difficult to please, exacting, fastidious, finicky, fussy, hair-splitting, nitpicking, overparticular, particular, picky, picky-picky
---
START AN INTERESTING OWAD CONVERSATION TODAY
Hey Jim, how PERSNICKETY are you about toilet paper rolls? Guess what percent of people prefer the paper hanging over, compared to tucking it under."
---
The answer is “over” — no surprise to the estimated 70 percent of wipers who already prefer this position, according to cnet.com. Proponents say an “over” roll provides easier access to the free end of the toilet paper and minimizes the risk of knuckle-on-wall germ gathering.
The vehement 30 percent in the “under” camp counter that their position gives a tidier appearance and makes paper less prone to pet attacks.
Read the full article here:
https://goo.gl/fXpwnP
---
DROP ME A LINE
Want to make a comment about today's word or share a PERSNICKETY experience? Write to me personally at: paul.paradoxing@gmail.com I'm always delighted to hear from you.
