argue
verb OPAL WOPAL S
/ˈɑːɡjuː/
/ˈɑːrɡjuː/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they argue | /ˈɑːɡjuː/ /ˈɑːrɡjuː/ |
| he / she / it argues | /ˈɑːɡjuːz/ /ˈɑːrɡjuːz/ |
| past simple argued | /ˈɑːɡjuːd/ /ˈɑːrɡjuːd/ |
| past participle argued | /ˈɑːɡjuːd/ /ˈɑːrɡjuːd/ |
| -ing form arguing | /ˈɑːɡjuːɪŋ/ /ˈɑːrɡjuːɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] to speak angrily to somebody because you disagree with them
- My brothers are always arguing.
- He's offering to pay so who am I to argue?
- argue with somebody about/over something We're always arguing with each other about money.
- argue about something I know it was a stupid thing to argue about.
- argue over something All families seem to argue over money.
- argue with somebody I don't want to argue with you—just do it!
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumenta2, Feelingsa2- She's always arguing with her mother.
- They were arguing over who should have the car that day.
- Magda walked out of the room before her husband could argue back.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- bitterly
- fiercely
- furiously
- …
- about
- over
- with
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] to give reasons why you think that something is right/wrong, true/not true, etc., especially to persuade people that you are right
- argue for/against something/doing something They argued for the right to strike.
- He argues persuasively against nationalism.
- argue something She argued the case for bringing back the death penalty.
- He was too tired to argue the point (= discuss the matter).
- a well-argued article
- argue that… Critics argue that Britain is not investing enough in broadband.
- It could be argued that laws are made by and for men.
- He argued that they needed more time to finish the project.
- His lawyer successfully argued that the punishment was excessive.
Language Bank argueargueVerbs for reporting an opinion- Some critics argue that Picasso remained a great master all his life.
- Others maintain that there is a significant deterioration in quality in his post-war work.
- Picasso himself claimed that good art is created, but great art is stolen.
- As Smith has noted, Picasso borrowed imagery from African art.
- As the author points out, Picasso borrowed imagery from African art.
- The writer challenges the notion that Picasso’s sculpture was secondary to his painting.
- It has been suggested that Picasso’s painting was influenced by jazz music.
Language Bank neverthelessneverthelessConceding a point and making a counterargument- While the film is undoubtedly too long, it is nevertheless an intriguing piece of cinema.
- It can be argued that the movie is too long. It is nonetheless an intriguing piece of cinema.
- The film is undoubtedly too long. Still, it is an intriguing piece of cinema.
- Of course, huge chunks of the book have been sacrificed in order to make a two-hour movie, but it is nevertheless a successful piece of storytelling.
- Critics are wrong to argue that the film’s plot is too complicated. Certainly there are a couple of major twists, but audiences will have no difficulty following them.
- It is true that you cannot make a good movie without a good script, but it is equally true that a talented director can make a good script into an excellent film.
- It remains to be seen whether these two movies herald a new era of westerns, but there is no doubt that they represent welcome additions to the genre.
Language Bank perhapsperhapsMaking an opinion sound less definite- Most cybercrime involves traditional crimes, such as theft and fraud, being committed in new ways. Phishing is perhaps/possibly/probably the best-known example of this.
- It seems/appears that the more personal data which organizations collect, the more opportunity there is for this data to be lost or stolen.
- It seems clear that introducing national ID cards would do little to prevent identity theft.
- It could be argued that the introduction of national ID cards might actually make identity theft easier.
- It is possible that/It may be that the only way to protect ourselves against DNA identity theft is to avoid the creation of national DNA databases.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentb1, Discussion and agreementb1- The general argued for extending the ceasefire.
- They argued in favour of stricter punishments.
- She argued against a rise in interest rates.
- I would wish to argue that appreciation of the arts should be encouraged for its own sake.
- In her paper she goes on to argue that scientists do not yet know enough about the nature of the disease.
- It is possible to argue that the rules are too strict.
- The report argues convincingly that economic help should be given to these countries.
- You could easily argue that this policy will have no effect.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- forcefully
- passionately
- strenuously
- …
- wish to
- be prepared to
- attempt to
- …
- against
- for
- in favour/favor of
- …
- [transitive] argue something (formal) to show clearly that something exists or is true
- These latest developments argue a change in government policy.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French arguer, from Latin argutari ‘prattle’, frequentative of arguere ‘make clear, prove, accuse’.
Idioms
argue the toss
- (British English, informal) to continue to disagree about a decision, especially when it is too late to change it or it is not very importantTopics Opinion and argumentc2