bắt lẽ
Definition
- Verb:
- To find fault unreasonably; to nitpick: To criticize or object to someone's words or actions in an overly meticulous, petty, or unreasonable manner, often focusing on minor details or semantics.
- To argue pedantically; to cavil: To raise trivial or frivolous objections in a discussion, often to contradict or correct someone unnecessarily.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ấy hay bắt lẽ từng câu nói của người khác. (He often nitpicks every word others say.)
- Đừng bắt lẽ những chi tiết nhỏ trong báo cáo của cô ấy. (Don't cavil about the minor details in her report.)
- Cuộc thảo luận trở nên căng thẳng vì một vài người chỉ muốn bắt lẽ. (The discussion became tense because a few people just wanted to argue pedantically.)
Advanced Usage
- The action of "bắt lẽ" often implies a lack of constructive intent and can hinder productive conversation by focusing on form over substance.
Variants and Related Words
- Bắt bẻ (v): To find fault, to pick holes in. This is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "bắt lẽ."
- Anh ấy thích bắt bẻ người khác. (He likes to find fault with others.)
Synonyms
- Nitpick: To criticize or find fault with insignificant details.
- Cavil: To make petty or unnecessary objections.
- Quibble: To argue or raise objections about a trivial matter.
Related Idioms
- Bắt lẽ, bắt lời: To nitpick words and language meticulously. This idiom emphasizes the act of fault-finding specifically in someone's phrasing or choice of words.
- Trong cuộc họp, ông giám đốc cứ bắt lẽ, bắt lời khiến mọi người rất ngại phát biểu. (In the meeting, the director kept nitpicking everyone's words, making people reluctant to speak up.)