nig·gle

noun

/ˈnɪɡl/

(British English) a small criticism or complaint轻微的批评；小牢骚
- My only niggle is that they should have told me sooner.我唯一的烦恼是他们应该早点告诉我。
- niggle about/over something niggles over ticket prices票价问题上的争论
a slight feeling, such as worry, doubt, etc. that does not go away一丝挥不去的烦恼（或疑虑等）
- a niggle of doubt一丝挥之不去的疑虑
- In his mind there was that same old niggle—had he done the right thing?在他的脑海里，还有同样的老问题——他做对了吗？
a slight pain轻微疼痛
- He gets the occasional niggle in his right shoulder.他的右肩有时隐隐作痛。
Topics Health problemsc2

Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the sense ‘do in an ineffectual way’): apparently of Scandinavian origin; compare with Norwegian nigla. Current senses date from the late 18th cent.

nig·gle

verb

/ˈnɪɡl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they niggle	/ˈnɪɡl/ /ˈnɪɡl/
he / she / it niggles	/ˈnɪɡlz/ /ˈnɪɡlz/
past simple niggled	/ˈnɪɡld/ /ˈnɪɡld/
past participle niggled	/ˈnɪɡld/ /ˈnɪɡld/
-ing form niggling	/ˈnɪɡlɪŋ/ /ˈnɪɡlɪŋ/

[intransitive, transitive] to annoy somebody slightly; to make somebody slightly worried使烦恼；使焦虑 synonym bother
- niggle at somebody A doubt niggled at her.一丝疑惑困扰着她。
it niggles somebody that… (British English)
- It niggled him that she had not phoned back.她没给他回电话，这使他有些不安。
niggle somebody (British English)
- Something was niggling her.她有点烦心的事儿。
[intransitive] to argue about something unimportant; to criticize somebody for something that is unimportant吹毛求疵；挑剔
- niggle about something I hate to niggle about little mistakes.我讨厌为小错误而烦恼。
- niggle over something We needn't niggle over whose turn it is.我们不必纠结轮到谁了。
synonym quibbleTopics Opinion and argumentc2

Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the sense ‘do in an ineffectual way’): apparently of Scandinavian origin; compare with Norwegian nigla. Current senses date from the late 18th cent.