argy-bargy

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English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Scottish, variant of argle-bargle, presumably from argue +‎ -y (“diminutive”).[1]

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GenAm" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈɑɹdʒiˌbɑɹdʒi/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈɑːdʒiˌbɑːdʒi/
  • Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)dʒi

Noun

argy-bargy (countable and uncountable, plural argy-bargies)

  1. A noisy disagreement, often with some fighting
    There was a bit of an argy-bargy over the matter.

Verb

argy-bargy (third-person singular simple present argy-bargies, present participle argy-bargying, simple past and past participle argy-bargied)

  1. To argue.
    • 1897, J. M. Barrie, chapter 6, in Margaret Ogilvy:
      Ten minutes at the least did she stand at the door argy-bargying with that man.
    • 2003, Lynne Truss, Eats, Shoots & Leaves,‎[1], page 27:
      Instead you will engage in some direct-action argy-bargy!

Synonyms

References

  1. ^ Word Detective 010506
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