quibble
verb

- to argue about, or say you disapprove of, something that is not important

- to argue or complain about a small matter, or an unimportant detail

The Cambridge Dictionary / Oxford Learner’s Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

“Quibble” attested from the 1610s as "a pun, a play on words" was probably a diminutive of the obsolete quib "evasion of a point at issue" from the 1540s and based on Latin quibus meaning "by what (things)?”. Its extensive use in legal writing supposedly gave it the association with a trivial argument.

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QUIBBLE-BUSTING
How to Turn Nitpickers into Big Picture Thinkers

Quibblers can be tricky interlocutors. They often derail discussions with minor objections. But with the right approach, you can shift their focus back to the main points. Here’s a simple technique we sometimes use to handle quibblers and keep the conversation on track.

Visual Mapping = start by asking the quibbler to draw a diagram. Have them put the main issues in the center and their various objections around the edges. This visual can highlight how their minor points are not central to the main discussion.

Engage with Analogies = to make your point clear, use lighthearted analogies. For example, say, “We’re trying to build a highway, and you’re pointing out small cracks in the sidewalk,” or “We’re composing a symphony, but you’re focused on fine-tuning one violin string in the third row.” These analogies can help illustrate how their nitpicking slows down progress.

Benefits of This Approach = by using visual aids and memorable metaphors, you not only address the immediate issue but also help the quibbler see the bigger picture. This technique can reduce future quibbling and promote more productive discussions.

Do you have any tips or tricks for quibble-busting, why not drop us a quick line?
Please use the contact form at: https://owad.de/contact

Helga & Paul

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SYNONYMS

argue, beat around the bush, be pedantic, bicker, cavil, dispute, equivocate, find fault, fuss, haggle, make a federal case out of it (a mountain out of a molehill, bones about, much ado about nothing), mince words (matters), niggle, nitpick, object, palter, pettifog, pick holes (a bone), prevaricate, pussyfoot around, quarrel, QUIBBLE, split hairs, squabble, trifle, wrangle

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THANKS to Florian for suggesting today’s OWAD

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a sentence, say something like:

"Rather than QUIBBLE about this particular issue,… let’s just move on and return to it later.”

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HAVE A LAUGH and connect today’s OWAD with yesterday’s in a witty way… say something like:

" 'Interesting' was her go-to CATCH-ALL response, leaving us to QUIBBLE about whether it was a compliment or a criticism.”

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