quibble
quibble — 名詞
- quibblesingular
- quibblesplural
1. an expression of dissatisfaction with a small detail that has little real import
微詞；小抱怨
對不重要細節的批評
an expression of dissatisfaction with a small detail that has little real importance
The reviewer's only quibble about the novel was the length of one chapter.
評論者對這部小說唯一的微詞是其中一章太長。
only quibble about [noun phrase] — single minor criticism
My biggest quibble with the hotel is that breakfast ended at 8:30.
我對這家旅館最大的小抱怨是早餐八點半就結束了。
Apart from a few small quibbles, the report was well received by the committee.
除了幾點小抱怨之外，這份報告得到委員會的肯定。
The laptop is excellent; any quibble you hear is about the fan noise, not performance.
這台筆電很優秀；你聽到的任何小抱怨都是關於風扇噪音，而非效能。
Kenji had only one quibble with the contract: the payment terms seemed unfair.
Kenji 對合約只有一個小抱怨：付款條件似乎不公平。
文法句型
quibble + about + noun phrase
quibble + with + noun phrase
2. a clever but unfair objection that turns attention away from the real issue bein
遁詞；詭辯
迴避重點的異議
a clever but unfair objection that turns attention away from the real issue being debated
The lawyer's quibble about the wording of the question did not fool the judge.
律師關於問題措辭的遁詞並沒有騙過法官。
quibble about wording — focusing on language to avoid the issue
Raising a quibble about grammar is just a way to avoid answering the hard question.
提出文法上的詭辯只是想迴避回答困難的問題。
His argument was full of legal quibbles that had nothing to do with the main issue.
他的論點充滿了與主要議題無關的法律遁詞。
When pressed for an answer, Walid fell back on a quibble about definitions.
被追問答案時，Walid 只好搬出定義上的遁詞。
文法句型
quibble + about + noun phrase
用法筆記
This sense is more negative than noun sense 1 (TRIVIAL COMPLAINT): a quibble here suggests a deliberate attempt to dodge the real topic rather than an honest minor criticism.
quibble — 動詞
- quibblepresent simple I / you / we / they
- quibbleshe / she / it
- quibbledpast simple
- quibbling-ing form
1. to complain or argue about unimportant details instead of dealing with the main
挑剔；爭瑣事
為小事爭論
to complain or argue about unimportant details instead of dealing with the main subject
The committee spent an hour quibbling over the color of the logo instead of discussing the budget.
委員會花了一小時爭論標誌的顏色，而不是討論預算。
quibble over [small detail] — typical pattern
Instead of quibbling about who was late, let us focus on how to finish the project on time.
與其挑剔誰遲到了，不如專心想如何按時完成專案。
quibble about [topic] — another common preposition
Miran and Luca quibbled endlessly about whose turn it was to clean the kitchen.
Miran 和 Luca 為了輪到誰清理廚房而爭論不休。
The two professors quibble over minor historical dates while ignoring the larger pattern.
那兩位教授為了微小的歷史日期爭論，卻忽略了更大的歷史脈絡。
Customers who quibble about every small fee often miss the overall value of the service.
挑剔每一筆小費用的顧客，往往忽略服務的整體價值。
- concentrate
quibbling distracts; concentrating means staying on the main point
文法句型
quibble + about/over + noun phrase
用法筆記
Intransitive only — a direct object is never used. The topic of the argument is introduced by the prepositions about or over.