# split hairs

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/split-hairs
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Tedious details; minutiae.

## Examples

- Please stop splitting hairs over these small details.
- We have a deadline tomorrow, so let's not split hairs over the font size of this document.
- While the legal team continued to split hairs regarding the precise interpretation of the contract, the actual project remained stalled for weeks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.