argument
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ar·gu·ment /ˈɑːɡjəmənt $ ˈɑːr-/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 
[countable]ARGUE a situation in which two or more people disagree, often angrily 争论，争吵，争辩argument with She had a big argument with her husband. 她和丈夫大吵了一架。argument about/over There have been a lot of arguments about who was responsible for the accident. 人们针对谁该为事故负责一事争论不休。2 [countable]REASON a set of reasons that show that something is true or untrue, right or wrong etc 论点，论据 We need to provide a convincing argument as to why the system should be changed. 我们得提出有说服力的论据，证明为何要改变体制。argument for/against a powerful argument against smoking 反对吸烟的有力论据 A good argument can be made for comparing the IT revolution with the invention of writing itself. 信息技术革命完全有理由与文字的发明相提并论。argument in favour of the arguments in favour of banning tobacco advertising 支持禁止烟草广告的论点argument that the familiar argument that the costs outweigh the benefits 得不偿失这一常见的论点3 [uncountable]DISAGREE when you disagree with something or question whether it is right 异议；争议do something without (further) argument Ian accepted the suggestion without argument. 伊恩二话不说就接受了这个建议。for the sake of argument (=in order to discuss all the possibilities) 为了讨论各种可能性 If, for the sake of argument, you aren’t offered the job, what will you do? 比方说吧，如果得不到这份工作，你会怎么办？ COLLOCATIONSverbshave an argument 争吵I could hear my parents having an argument downstairs. 我听到父母在楼下争吵。get into an argument/become involved in an argument 争吵起来She didn’t want to get into another argument about money. 她不想为了钱又吵起来。nI left to avoid becoming involved in an argument.start/cause an argument 引起争吵He was deliberately trying to start an argument. 他故意想吵架。nMoney often causes arguments.avoid an argument 避免争吵I was anxious to avoid an argument. 我一心想避免争吵。win/lose an argument 争吵[争论]赢了/输了nThe party hopes to win the argument about how to reform the health system.nThe first one who resorts to violence is usually the one who’s lost the argument. an argument breaks out (=it starts) 争吵[争论]爆发nThe men were drunk and an argument soon broke out.an argument erupts (=a big argument suddenly starts) 突然爆发争吵[争论] nA bitter argument erupted between the brothers over who should inherit the money.adjectivesa big/huge/massive argument 激烈/剧烈的争吵There was a big argument about whether we should move to a new house. 我们为了要不要搬家而大吵了一架。a heated argument (=involving very strong feelings) 激烈争吵[争论]nSomeone was having a heated argument with a police officer.a bitter argument 激烈争吵[争论]nThere are bitter arguments about whether he was a hero or a war criminal.a furious/fierce argument 激烈争吵[争论]nAs soon as she had gone a furious argument broke out. a violent argument 激烈争吵[争论]nThe singer was hurt in a violent argument with her husband. THESAURUSargument a situation in which people speak angrily to each other because they disagree about something 争论，争吵an argument between two drivers over who had right of way 两个司机之间关于谁有优先通行权的争吵nA 29-year-old man was shot and killed today after an argument over a gambling debt.row /raʊ/ British English, fight especially American English a loud angry argument with someone, especially your boyfriend, girlfriend, or someone in your family. Row is also used about a serious disagreement between politicians about important public issues 〔尤指情侣、家人之间的〕争吵〔row也指政界人士有关重要公共问题的严重分歧〕There were always fights between my parents. 我父母老是吵架。the continuing row over tax increases 关于增税问题的持久争论nA few months ago they had a big row, and Steve drove off and spent the weekend in London.disagreement a situation in which people disagree with each other, but without shouting or getting angry 意见不合，分歧There were the occasional disagreements about money, but mostly we got on well. 我们有时在钱上有些分歧，不过总的来说相处得不错。nGinny had left the company after a disagreement with her boss.quarrel especially British English an argument, especially one in which people get angry and that lasts a long time. Quarrel sounds more formal and more serious than argument or row 〔尤指长时间的〕争吵，吵架〔quarrel比argument和row更为正式、激烈〕a bitter family quarrel 激烈的家庭争吵feud /fjuːd/ a very bitter argument between two groups, especially families, which lasts for many years and causes people to hate each other 〔两个群体、尤指两个家族间的〕长期争斗，世仇The feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys raged for 20 years. 哈特菲尔德家族和麦考伊家族之间的世仇持续了20年。dispute a public or legal argument about something, especially one which continues for a long time 〔尤指长时间的涉及公共事务或法律的〕争论，争端Morris has been involved in a long legal dispute with his publisher. 莫里斯与其出版商陷入旷日持久的法律纠纷。nThe settlement will resolve a long-running dispute over the country’s nuclear program.nwar/battle of words an argument in which two people or groups criticize each other continuously in publicThe war of words over construction delays at the airport has erupted again.nbust-up British English informal a very bad argument, especially one in which people decide to separate from each otherHe had a bust-up with the team manager.nshouting match an angry argument in which people shout at each otherHe got into a shouting match with another driver.nslanging match British English informal an argument in which people insult each otherHe was sacked after a slanging match with a colleague.an argument that is not very serious 不太严重的争吵squabble /ˈskwɒbəl $ ˈskwɑː-/ an argument about something that is not important 〔为琐事的〕争吵，口角There were the usual squabbles between brothers and sisters. 兄弟姐妹之间总有些争争吵吵。nVoters are tired of petty squabbles between party leaders.tiff informal an argument that is not very serious, between people who are in love 〔情侣之间的〕口角，争吵Gary had a bit of a tiff with his girlfriend. 加里和女朋友吵嘴了。misunderstanding a slight argument – a rather formal word which is often used humorously 小争执，不和〔相当正式，常为幽默用法〕There was a slight misunderstanding over the bill, but everything’s been sorted out now. 对账单有些小小的误会，不过现在都解决了。nskirmish a short argument, especially between politicians or sports opponentsEvans and O'Brien had several political skirmishes.Examples from the Corpus
argument• A 29-year-old man was shot and killed today after an argument over a gambling debt.• I'm sorry I'm not in a good mood. I had an argument with my husband this morning.• Phil got into an argument with a guy at the bar.• Testimony ended Wednesday afternoon, and attorneys are to give closing arguments Thursday.• Rose presented a good argument.• This provides an important argument for the lead causes-hyperactivity hypothesis.• The main argument against smoking is that it's bad for your health.• Learn to study footnotes for further information and as clues to the scholarship and plausibility of the historian's arguments.• We can regard the statistical argument about numbers of planets as an argument of last resort.• My sister and I had a terrible argument last night.• What are the arguments for the legalization of cannabis?• In his mind Cameron continued the argument throughout the meal.• It is not clear how much of the argument is really about policy, and how much about personality.• Do you agree with the argument that violence on TV makes people behave violently?• Just stick to your argument that the dealer said you'd make a certain profit.argument about/over• As usual the Benn women were having an argument over the breakfast table.• Social interaction involving dialogue and argument over ideas, by its very nature, is an important source of disequilibrium.• There is room for argument about precise figures, none about the general thrust of Sir Hector's briefing.• The anti-conspiratorial rhetoric of the Vanguard argument has its place in the general National Front argument about tactics.• The economist does not enter into the dubious moral arguments about the importance or virtue of the wants to be satisfied.• Then there is the argument about availability.• I Pressed home the usual arguments about duty and not fighting the war for the privilege of going to the cinema.• Mary Mara makes the volatile Ruth a mainspring of precarious tension, capable of a solitary three-way argument over a peanut-butter sandwich.argument that• The Defendants counter argument that this infrastructure information did not constitute a record either was not allowed by the Court.• She offered the familiar argument that a strong domestic steel industry is needed for national defense.• It is too clear for argument that the change in phraseology was adopted understandingly and with a purpose.• This is the kind of argument that Clinton loves; it sets him on the middle ground.• This weakens the splitters' argument that to reconstitute high-level meaning from the basic ingredients requires only the right recipe.• Incidentally, the argument that dinosaurs would have needed to keep their brains cool neither proves nor disproves endothermy.• We begin with the argument that the evidence for a Deity might be so strong as to undermine faith.• The argument that fixed costs are incompatible with scale economies is as follows.• No serious thinker can make a valid argument that to discriminate based on species is acceptable.for the sake of argument• Let us assume for the sake of argument that Inevitable is correct.• Let us assume for the sake of argument that you are not Joan Crawford.• I'm not sure that's an accurate description, but for the sake of argument I'll accept it.• Let's just say, for the sake of argument, that you've got $5000 to invest.• Let's say for the sake of argument it was the scullery window.• This already poses problems, but let us say, for the sake of argument, that it is equivalent to place.• Let us say for the sake of argument that it is five different partners on the same night.• Suppose, for the sake of argument, man, the true perpetrators of this crime are our enemies.ar·gu·ment noun →COLLOCATIONS1 →THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
often two a disagree, situation in people Corpus more or which
argument
ar‧gu‧ment S1 W1 /ˈɑːɡjəmənt, ˈɑːɡjʊmənt $ ˈɑːr-/
noun
1. [countable] a situation in which two or more people disagree, often angrily
argument with
She had a big argument with her husband.
argument about/over
There have been a lot of arguments about who was responsible for the accident.
2. [countable] a set of reasons that show that something is true or untrue, right or wrong etc:
We need to provide a convincing argument as to why the system should be changed.
argument for/against
a powerful argument against smoking
A good argument can be made for comparing the IT revolution with the invention of writing itself.
argument in favour of
the arguments in favour of banning tobacco advertising
argument that
the familiar argument that the costs outweigh the benefits
3. [uncountable] when you disagree with something or question whether it is right
do something without (further) argument
Ian accepted the suggestion without argument.
for the sake of argument (=in order to discuss all the possibilities)
If, for the sake of argument, you aren’t offered the job, what will you do?
■ verbs
▪have an argument I could hear my parents having an argument downstairs.
▪get into an argument/become involved in an argument She didn’t want to get into another argument about money. | I left to avoid becoming involved in an argument.
▪start/cause an argument He was deliberately trying to start an argument. | Money often causes arguments.
▪avoid an argument I was anxious to avoid an argument.
▪win/lose an argument The party hopes to win the argument about how to reform the health system. | The first one who resorts to violence is usually the one who’s lost the argument.
▪an argument breaks out (=it starts) The men were drunk and an argument soon broke out.
▪an argument erupts (=a big argument suddenly starts) A bitter argument erupted between the brothers over who should inherit the money.
■ adjectives
▪a big/huge/massive argument There was a big argument about whether we should move to a new house.
▪a heated argument (=involving very strong feelings) Someone was having a heated argument with a police officer.
▪a bitter argument There are bitter arguments about whether he was a hero or a war criminal.
▪a furious/fierce argument As soon as she had gone a furious argument broke out.
▪a violent argument The singer was hurt in a violent argument with her husband.
▪ argument a situation in which people speak angrily to each other because they disagree about something: an argument between two drivers over who had right of way | A 29-year-old man was shot and killed today after an argument over a gambling debt.
▪row British English, fight especially American English a loud angry argument with someone, especially your boyfriend, girlfriend, or someone in your family. Row is also used about a serious disagreement between politicians about important public issues: There were always fights between my parents. | the continuing row over tax increases | A few months ago they had a big row, and Steve drove off and spent the weekend in London.
▪disagreement a situation in which people disagree with each other, but without shouting or getting angry: There were the occasional disagreements about money, but mostly we got on well. | Ginny had left the company after a disagreement with her boss.
▪quarrel especially British English an argument, especially one in which people get angry and that lasts a long time. Quarrel sounds more formal and more serious than argument or row: a bitter family quarrel
▪feud /fjuːd/ a very bitter argument between two groups, especially families, which lasts for many years and causes people to hate each other: The feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys raged for 20 years.
▪dispute a public or legal argument about something, especially one which continues for a long time: Morris has been involved in a long legal dispute with his publisher. | The settlement will resolve a long-running dispute over the country’s nuclear program.
▪war/battle of words an argument in which two people or groups criticize each other continuously in public: The war of words over construction delays at the airport has erupted again.
▪bust-up British English informal a very bad argument, especially one in which people decide to separate from each other: He had a bust-up with the team manager.
▪shouting match an angry argument in which people shout at each other: He got into a shouting match with another driver.
▪slanging match British English informal an argument in which people insult each other: He was sacked after a slanging match with a colleague.
■ an argument that is not very serious
▪squabble /ˈskwɒbəl $ ˈskwɑː-/ an argument about something that is not important: There were the usual squabbles between brothers and sisters. | Voters are tired of petty squabbles between party leaders.
▪tiff informal an argument that is not very serious, between people who are in love: Gary had a bit of a tiff with his girlfriend.
▪misunderstanding a slight argument – a rather formal word which is often used humorously: There was a slight misunderstanding over the bill, but everything’s been sorted out now.
▪skirmish a short argument, especially between politicians or sports opponents: Evans and O'Brien had several political skirmishes.
ar‧gu‧ment S1 W1 /ˈɑːɡjəmənt, ˈɑːɡjʊmənt $ ˈɑːr-/
noun1. [countable] a situation in which two or more people disagree, often angrily
argument with
argument about/over
2. [countable] a set of reasons that show that something is true or untrue, right or wrong etc:
argument for/against
argument in favour of
argument that
3. [uncountable] when you disagree with something or question whether it is right
do something without (further) argument
for the sake of argument (=in order to discuss all the possibilities)
| COLLOCATIONS |
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
■ adjectives
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
| THESAURUS |
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
■ an argument that is not very serious
▪
▪
▪
▪