bicker
BIK-er
/ˈbɪk.ər/
To argue about petty and trivial matters.
Suggests a repetitive, annoying, and often habitual way of arguing.
The story behind the word. From Middle English 'bikeren,' which originally meant to skirmish or attack with arrows. It evolved from a deadly military term to a term for annoying verbal skirmishes.
Word relationships
- squabble: Bickering is more about the repetitive nature; squabbling is more about the noise.
- concur: To concur is to agree; to bicker is to find small things to disagree about.
Commonly confused with
- beaker: A beaker is a glass container in a lab; bicker is to argue.
Word family
- bickering (noun): The act of arguing over trifles.
Collocations
- bicker over
- constantly bickering
- bicker like children
Example sentences
- "They bicker constantly about whose turn it is to do the dishes." Describing a couple.
- "Stop bickering and get back to work!" Workplace annoyance.
Memory hook
Bicker sounds like 'picker'—you are 'picking' at small flaws. Picking at small things.
When not to use
Not for a serious or one-time argument.
Fun facts
- In the 14th century, you could 'bicker' with a sword, but by the 16th century, you could only 'bicker' with your tongue.
Also appears in
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