Merriam-Webster says pettifogger has two main meanings. The first is "a lawyer whose methods are petty, underhanded, or disreputable ." The second meaning is "one given to quibbling over trifles." Quibble is another word for argue. And a trifle is something that is unimportant or of little value.

韦氏词典表示，pettifogger有两种主要含义。一种含义是“一名方法琐碎、不熟练或者声誉不佳的律师。”第二种含义是“某人就琐事磨嘴皮子。”Quibble是争论的同义词。而trifle是指无关紧要或没什么价值的事情。

属类：学习英语-Words And Their Stories 词汇掌故-词汇掌故：Pettifogging是什么意思？

"The historical view that these offshore islands are here to pick up disreputable money is just not true, " says Mr McGregor.

“传统观点认为，开设这些离岸中心是为了洗黑钱，而如今情况不同了，”麦格雷戈表示。

属类：英汉句库-www.ftchinese.com-

Copying came to be seen as disreputable , as a refuge for the unimaginative.

模仿变得声名狼藉，被认为是缺乏想象力的代名词。

属类：英汉句库-article.yeeyan.org-

which should be more disreputable . Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage .

视贫穷如园中之花而像圣人一样耕植它吧！

属类：英汉句库-bbs.ebigear.com-

But while Mr Singh is an impeccable frontman, the country's politics has a much sleazier and more disreputable side.

虽然辛格作为头面人物无可指摘，但印度政治却有着更加丑陋、污秽的一面。

属类：英汉句库-www.ftchinese.com-

My actual disreputable motive was that I wanted to be the first to call it.

我真正的龌龊动机是想成为第一个作此断言的人。

属类：英汉句库-article.yeeyan.org-

The way they made a living seemed vaguely disreputable with memories of the 1929 crash so fresh in people's minds.

由于人们对1929年股灾记忆犹新，他们谋生的方式隐隐有些不太体面。

属类：英汉句库-www.ftchinese.com-

She could have been lingering amongst some of her more disreputable thoughts before clothing them for ever in convention.

在把邪恶的念头永远遮掩在习俗之中以前，她也许长期沉溺在自己的更为脏肮的思想中。

属类：综合句库--