tiff

/tif/

Thân thiện

Two friends had a small tiff over which movie to watch.

Definition

Noun: 1. A minor argument or petty quarrel: A "tiff" is a slight, often brief, disagreement or dispute, typically about something trivial or unimportant. It implies a temporary, non-serious conflict, often between friends, family members, or romantic partners.

Usage

A "tiff" is used to describe a small-scale, informal argument. It is not a serious fight or a major falling-out. The word often carries a slightly informal or conversational tone.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to have a tiff (with someone)": This is the most common construction for describing the act of quarreling.
  • She's having a tiff with her roommate over the dirty dishes.
• "a bit of a tiff": A phrase used to minimize the seriousness of the argument.
  • There was a bit of a tiff at the meeting, but it was quickly resolved.

Variants and Related Words

• Tiffy (adj, informal): Easily prone to having tiffs; irritable.
  • He's been a bit tiffy all morning.

Synonyms

• Squabble: A noisy quarrel about something petty.
• Spat: A brief, petty quarrel.
• Row (chiefly British): A noisy argument or dispute.
• Disagreement: A lack of consensus or approval.

Antonyms

• Agreement
• Harmony
• Accord

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "A lovers' tiff": A common phrase specifically describing a minor quarrel between romantic partners.
  • They're not breaking up; it's just a lovers' tiff.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a quarrel about petty points

Từ đồng nghĩa

• bicker
• bickering
• spat
• squabble
• pettifoggery
• fuss