Let's not split hairs

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定义

Let's not split hairs: 让我们不要斤斤计较 idiom

to split: 分离、分开 verb

示例

"Sam : 0.95% but let's not split hairs."

练习 1

Sam says, "Let's not split hairs".
What does he mean by this?

Let's not lose our tempers

This is not the best choice."To lose one's temper" is to become angry and lose control. This is not what Sam is saying here.

Let's not spoil our meal

Sam is not asking Bruno to avoid "ruining" or "spoiling" the lunch, but rather he is saying that he doesn't want to argue about the small difference between the interest rate Bruno mentions and the interest rate which Sam talks about.

Let's not beat around the bush

The expression "to beat around the bush" means to avoid addressing an issue directly. It is a tactic often used by politicians trying to avoid commenting on controversial matters. When someone does not want to say or admit something, they often "beat around the bush". Example: The politician beat around the bush for several hours before finally admitting that he had tried to seduce the goat.

Let's not argue about minor details

This is the best choice. The expression "to split hairs" means to make fine distinction between two things that are essentially the same or very close to one another. In the dialogue, Sam points out that the rate of interest is not 1%, as suggested by Bruno, but rather 0.95%. The difference between the two rates is very small, thus Sam acknowledges that he is "splitting hairs" by pointing out the difference.

练习 2

Mr. Laughsalot says, "Alright soldiers, the first thing we're going to do is split up into teams of two".

Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "split up" correctly.

Be careful, there may be more than one correct response!

After eight years of marriage, Bob and Sophie finally split up.

If we split up the work between us, we'll be able to get more accomplished.

Polly likes to split up the political issues before voting.

Icarus is always splitting up hairs regarding financial matters.

After eight years of marriage, Bob and Sophie finally split up.

This is one correct use of the phrasal verb "to split up". Here it means to separate, or to end a romantic relationship. Note that in the Lawrence's speech he is using the verb to express the sense of dividing, and not ending a relationship.

If we split up the work between us, we'll be able to get more accomplished.

This is one correct use of the phrasal verb "to split up". Here the verb indicates a division (of labor). This is the same sense in which Lawrence uses the term in the dialogue.

Polly likes to split up the political issues before voting.

This sentence has no ostensible meaning. The verb "to split up" cannot be used to indicate that one will "analyze" or "examine" a topic.

Icarus is always splitting up hairs regarding financial matters.

The expression "to split hairs" is a legitimate way to refer to analyzing things in too much detail, however this expression uses the simple verb "to split", and not the phrasal verb "to split up".

练习 3

"The first thing we're going to do is split up into teams of two".

Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "to split up" correctly.

After eight years of marriage, Bob and Sophie finally split up.

If we split up the work between us, we'll be able to get more accomplished.

Polly likes to split up the political issues before voting.

Icarus is always splitting up hairs regarding financial matters.

"The first thing we're going to do is split up into teams of two".

Choose all the sentences below that use the phrasal verb "to split up" correctly.

After eight years of marriage, Bob and Sophie finally split up.

This is one correct use of the phrasal verb "to split up". Here it means to separate, or to end a romantic relationship. Note that in Lawrence's speech he is using the verb to express the sense of dividing, and not ending a relationship.

If we split up the work between us, we'll be able to get more accomplished.

This is one correct use of the phrasal verb "to split up". Here the verb indicates a division (of labor). This is the same sense in which Lawrence uses the term in the dialogue.

Polly likes to split up the political issues before voting.

This sentence has no ostensible meaning. The verb "to split up" cannot be used to indicate that one will "analyze" or "examine" a topic.

Icarus is always splitting up hairs regarding financial matters.

The expression "to split hairs" is a legitimate way to refer to analyzing things in too much detail, however this expression uses the simple verb "to split", and not the phrasal verb "to split up".

进一步了解…

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