British English Slang – Argy-bargy or argie-bargie.
A noisy or lively argument. This expression is used to describe a bad tempered argument. This phrase can also be used to describe a fight or a heated discussion.
Argy-bargy originated in Scotland and is an alteration of the word argue.
There are lots of great English slang expressions related to arguing or fighting, they include:
- Barney – British slang for a noisy argument or fight.
- cross swords – To have an argument or disagreement with someone.
- fisticuffs – A fistfight.
- kerfuffle – A commotion or noisy disagreement.
- knuckle sandwich – A punch in the mouth.
- lock horns – To have an argument or disagreement with someone.
- scrap – A fight.
The idiom feel blue can be used to describe feeling sad or depressed. You might also feel down in the mouth (idiom) after some argy-bargy!
Example:
- “Looks like a bit of argy-bargy going on over there. I think it started over a spilled pint!”
In the News
Spotted in the news‘It was just argy-bargy’ – reaction to Casemiro’s red cardbbc.co.ukListen:
What is slang?
Slang is very informal language. It’s usually spoken rather than written, and is often used by a particular group of people or in a particular place. Slang changes over time, and using it well is a great way to sound more natural when speaking English.
Frequently Asked Questions
A noisy or lively argument — a bad-tempered disagreement, fight, or heated discussion.
It originated in Scotland as an alteration of the word “argue”.
It can describe anything from a minor squabble to a genuine fight — the tone usually depends on the context it’s used in.
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