Slight argument, etc.
Hi,
(A)
Consider the following examples:
(1) "... just a slight argument with a door post..."
(2) "...just a slight argument with the pavement last night"
I wonder if the word combination "slight argument" has turned into a kind of "fixed phrase" and so is mostly used figuratively nowadays? Would (1) and (2) lose its figurative meaning if I replaced "slight argument" with, say, "minor dispute"?
(B) I'd also like to ask you to a more general question...
Could you please sort the following words/expressions, starting with the "least strong" (assuming they are all very close in meaning and so are comparable)?
(1) quarrel
(2) dispute
(3) argument
(4) tiff
(5) to have words with smb
(C) Finally, would it be correct to say that the differences between the three variations below are negligible?
(1) ".... nothing serious, just a minor dispute among neighbors..."
(2) ".... nothing serious, just a minor argument among neighbors..."
(3) ".... nothing serious, just a minor tiff among neighbors..."
.... and it is the attrubute "minor" that serves as a leveller in (1)-(3)?
--- Thank you for your help!
Top answer
vlivef I wonder if the word combination "slight argument" has turned into a kind of "fixed phrase" and so is mostly used figuratively nowadays? No, it's not a fixed phrase. The speakers are making their obvious injury into a joke.
- vlivef I wonder if the word combination "slight argument" has turned into a kind of "fixed phrase" and so is mostly used figuratively nowadays?
- No, it's not a fixed phrase.
- The speakers are making their obvious injury into a joke.
- vlivef Could you please sort the following words/expressions, starting with the "least strong" It is not a question of "strength" but of context.
- These words are used in different situations, but sometimes they are interchangeable.
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vlivefI wonder if the word combination "slight argument" has turned into a kind of "fixed phrase" and so is mostly used figuratively nowadays?
No, it's not a fixed phrase. The speakers are making their obvious injury into a joke.
vlivefCould you please sort the following words/expressions, starting with the "least strong"
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