Posted on 04/19/2012 12:24:19 PM PDT by secret garden
In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".
pettifog \PET-ee-fog\, verb
1. To bicker or quibble over trifles or unimportant matters.
2. To carry on a petty, shifty, or unethical law business.
3. To practice chicanery of any sort. .
Example sentences:
Marius, my boy, you are a baron, you are rich, don't pettifog, I beg of you.
-- Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
Naturally, the wonderful tubers Brillat-Savarin dug up and dished out lacked the penultimate refinements of washing and cooking, but it would've been gauche to pettifog.
-- Elizabeth Gundy, The Disappearance of Gregory Pluckrose
Etymology:
Pettifog comes from the Middle Dutch word voeger meaning one who arranges things and the word petty meaning insignificant.
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day. The Review threads are linked for your edification. ;-)
Practice makes perfect.....post on....
Review Thread One: Word For The Day, Thursday 11/14/02: Raffish (Be SURE to check out posts #92 and #111 on this thread!)
Review Thread Two: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/14/03: Roister
Review Thread Three: Word For The Day, Tuesday 1/28/03: Obdurate
WFB's attempt to emulate us ; ) No pushing at the door please!
Hey y’all, we finally made it!
Hey y’all, we finally made it!
The meany-Romney-dog-on-the-roof meme was all the rage when it was working for Democrats, but now that the tables have been turned and ‘Crategate’ has become ‘Ategate,’ Dems claim that Republicans are engaging in political petitfoggery.
Hey! You have an entire thread about you. You’re famous!
A for you and welcome to WFTD! Crategate —> Ategate, I love it!
Oops, I guess I could have spelled that correctly: pettitfoggery. In my defense, the word made me think about petit fours; in this context, little puppy paws on a plate.
From The Pettifoggy Obama Cookbook:
Border Collie En Brochette
Yorkie-Shire Pudding
Shi-Tzu on a Shingle
German Shepherd’s Pie
and For Desert:
White Chocolate Maltese Mousse
According to Gloria on Modern Family, it’s a doggie dog world. A+ for you.
The hits just keep on coming! A for you.
Pettifog
From The Wisdom of Kermit:
“Pettifog with a couple of ‘r’s added becomes “prettyfrog”, which has no significance at all, pettifog”.
Makes me wanna croak!
We had mucho fog this morning.
A for you and your little green friend.
Oh noes. Are you going to expound on the science of fog? Or is the fog from the all the people of Pittsburgh breathing easier this am? The big whew you weren’t swept?
Well, you know the prevailing winds in this state go from west to east — cause Philly sucks!
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