split hairs

Cultural  

1. To argue about an inconsequential and trivial aspect of an issue: “When you are accused of being forty-five minutes late for an appointment, you are splitting hairs to say that you were really only forty minutes late.”

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split hairs Idioms  

1. Make trivial distinctions, quibble, as in Let's not split hairs about whose turn it is; I'll close up today and you do it tomorrow. This metaphoric idiom transfers dividing so fine an object as a single hair to other petty divisions. [Second half of 1600s]

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Example Sentences

Given the bottlenecks, data centers might care more about speed than split hairs about cost.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 5, 2025

Democratic lawmakers split hairs over details of a long-debated plan to demolish the crumbling Brutalist headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C.

From New York Times • Dec. 20, 2022

If you give scientists enough caffeine or other kinds of beverages, you can split hairs about, was that the perfect metaphor?

From Seattle Times • Jan. 26, 2022

A clear-eyed overview of the nuclear industry and the Japanese disaster doesn’t split hairs over the risk: It can happen here.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2022

She was well aware that the “hoorays” made five cheers, not three, but there was no need to split hairs.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood