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argle-bargle

/ˌɑrgəl ˌbɑrgəl/

Argle-bargle is meaningless nonsense. If you ask a politician and she responds in a confusing, absurd way, you can say her answer is nothing but argle-bargle.

It's more common to hear the word argle-bargle in Britain than in the US, but wherever you are, it's a great way to refer to gibberish or foolish talk. You can also use the word to mean an argument or a quarrel. Argle-bargle comes from the 1580s word argle, "to argue obstinately," which might be a combination of argue and haggle. The variation argy-bargy comes from a Scottish rhyme.

Definitions of argle-bargle
  1. noun
    a verbal dispute; a wrangling argument
    synonyms: argy-bargy
    see moresee less
    type of:
    arguing, argument, contention, contestation, controversy, disceptation, disputation, tilt
    a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement
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