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niggle Definition

nig·gle (nigəl)

intransitive verb -·gled, -·gling

to work fussily; pay too much attention to petty details

Etymology: North Brit dial., prob. akin to Norw dial. nigla in same sense

niggle Related Forms
nig·gler noun nig·gling adjective, noun
niggle Usage Examples

Object

  • injury: From my experience groin injuries are very niggling injuries.
  • doubt: This discovery meant " my many niggling doubts [ about what?
  • bit: No quarter given, non expected, bit of niggle here, bit there.
  • concern: Our only niggles concern the Canon menu system, which is just too esoteric for our liking.
  • problem: Completing the top five is skipper Ryan Sullivan, who has suffered all sorts of niggling mechanical problems so far this year.

Preposition: at

  • back: Minutes later he was lucky not to get another card for niggling at the back of a city player.

Modifying Another Word

  • aside: Minor niggles aside, the record has many fine moments.
  • tho: That niggle aside tho, this is a classic movie and well worth seeking out.
  • away: Maybe the thought of Englandâs 2007 smoking ban in enclosed public places is niggling away.
  • that: However, there are some graphical niggles that let the side down a bit.
  • little: One, slight little niggle, I to am having problems with some of the headings.
  • only: Our only niggles concern the Canon menu system, which is just too esoteric for our liking.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • aside: The writing is concise yet detailed and, a few little grammatical niggles aside, very neat and tidy indeed.

Used with why or when

  • that: Are you storing up any little niggles that could develop into problems down the line?
  • when: I know it's not a serious program, but this niggles when everything else is so good.

Infinitive complement

  • iron: There are a few niggles to iron out, but we would expect the system to go live within the next 6 weeks.

Present participle complement

  • relate: This new model and initially some niggles relating to ITV and BBC multiplexes doing something with MHEG.

Preposition: in

  • back: There'll always be that niggle in the back of my mind about it coming back.

Preposition: of

  • life: But there were many others dealing with the niggles of army life as encountered by these mainly volunteer or conscript soldiers.