bicker — to argue about things that are not important
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to argue about things that are not important
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbɪkər/
Example Sentences
- My siblings always bicker about who gets the last piece of pizza.
- The politicians bickered over budget details for hours.
- Instead of bickering about the GPS directions, let's just ask for help.
bicker
VERB[/ˈbɪkər/]
to argue about things that are not important
The siblings bicker over the last slice of pizza at dinner.
Why bicker when candles flicker? End it quicker!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Middle English 'bikeren', originally meaning 'to attack' or 'to thrust'. Over time, the meaning evolved metaphorically to describe verbal conflict, eventually acquiring its modern sense of petty quarreling or arguing.
Breakdown
bikeren (Middle English: to attack, thrust) → bicker (to quarrel verbally). The semantic shift reflects a metaphorical extension from physical piercing to sharp, pointed words exchanged in argument.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My siblings always bicker about who gets the last piece of pizza.”
“The politicians bickered over budget details for hours.”
“Instead of bickering about the GPS directions, let's just ask for help.”
“The team members bickered so much that they forgot their original goal.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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