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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Split hairs

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

Argue over very small or unimportant distinctions.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. We’re splitting hairs over the shade of grey when the layout still needs fixing.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

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Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

Argue over very small or unimportant distinctions.
Show the answer

Split hairs — Argue over very small or unimportant distinctions.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Split hairs” about your own life.

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Does your sentence match this meaning?

Argue over very small or unimportant distinctions.

Compare: We’re splitting hairs over the shade of grey when the layout still needs fixing.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this disapproving expression when a discussion seems stuck on details that do not affect the main issue. Be careful not to dismiss distinctions that actually matter.

More examples in context

  • I don’t want to split hairs, but the exact date matters for the booking.
  • The discussion became an exercise in splitting hairs about two nearly identical labels.

Usage note

Keep “hairs” plural. The past tense of “split” is also “split”. The phrase judges the distinctions as excessively small; it is not a neutral term for careful analysis.

A short conversation

A: Should we call it a short break or a brief pause?
B: We may be splitting hairs. Either phrase is clear here.
A: Let’s choose one and move on.

One more practice question

Which discussion is splitting hairs?

A. A careful check of a number that changes the whole budget.
B. A long argument over a tiny wording difference that changes nothing important.

Check your answer

B. The phrase criticises excessive attention to trivial distinctions.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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