argy-bargy

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Scots, variant of argle-bargle, documented since 1822, presumably due to replacement of +‎ -le (frequentative) with +‎ -y (diminutive), documented since 1857, but without effect on the meaning.[1][2]

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

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

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

Verb[edit]

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

  1. (chiefly UK) 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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “argle”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^ Word Detective 010506