[Idiom] SPLIT HAIRS. - Dive into the Nuances of Over-Analysis

Make unnecessary distinctions.

To "split hairs" means to make distinctions so fine and minor that they become pointless. Imagine trying to split a single hair with a knife; it’s an exercise in extreme precision but ultimately unnecessary, often leading to needless arguments.

Example Sentences

1. Stop splitting hairs and make a decision!

   The phrase criticizes overattention to trivial or minor differences, urging a focus on making a significant decision.

2. They're just splitting hairs over minor details of the contract.

   This describes people debating minor and arguably insignificant details, which prevents them from resolving more significant contract issues.

3. In the meeting, Jane and Mark were splitting hairs about the wording of the report instead of focusing on the main issues.

   The discussion overly focused on minor textual differences instead of addressing the larger, more important topics at hand.