nitpick

/ˈnɪt.pɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnɪt.pɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnit-ˌpik/ (ame, mw)

nitpick — verb

  • nitpickpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • nitpicks3rd person singular
  • nitpicking-ing form
  • nitpickedpast simple

1. to keep pointing out tiny mistakes or flaws that do not really matter, in a way

1.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

to keep pointing out tiny mistakes or flaws that do not really matter, in a way that annoys other people — for example, complaining that a report uses the wrong font size, or that a salad has too much pepper.

例句

Stop nitpicking about my grammar — you understood what I meant.

nitpick about + noun (informal complaint frame)

Indra's manager nitpicks every email she sends, marking commas in red ink.

transitive: nitpick + direct object (workplace context)

同義詞
  • quibble

    more formal; arguing about a small point rather than complaining about it

  • carp

    complaining repeatedly in a whiny way, often without naming a specific detail

  • fault-find

    older / more formal phrasing for the same habit

反義詞
  • overlook

    deliberately ignore small flaws instead of pointing them out

文法句型

nitpick about + noun

nitpick over + noun

stop nitpicking

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person; the object or following 'about/over' phrase is something trivial. Frequently used in negative imperatives ('stop nitpicking') and to describe annoying behaviour rather than serious criticism.

常見錯誤

❌The judge nitpicked the witness about the murder weapon.
✅The judge questioned the witness closely about the murder weapon.
💡'nitpick' is for trivial details, not serious matters.
❌I nitpicked my homework for spelling errors.
✅I checked my homework carefully for spelling errors.
💡you don't nitpick your own work; the verb implies annoying someone else.