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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ARGIE-BARGIE, ARGY-BARGY, n. and v. [′ɑrgi′bɑrgi + ′ɑrgĕ′bɑrgĕ]

1. n. A dispute in words, a quarrel, haggling, its use generally implying impatience with the speaker. Gen.Sc.Abd.(D) 1916 G. Abel Wylins fae my Wallet 35:
An' sae the argie-bargies rin; Tho' quaet yersel', ye roose some din.Abd. 2000 Sheena Blackhall The Singing Bird 40:
Somebody whyles will aye
Howk up a roosted argy-bargy
Frae in aneth a buss
An yark it aff tae the cowp.w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 58:
We girn an greet, amang oorsel,
Argie-bargie the faut o't.Edb. 1900 E. H. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 25:
But in the midst o' the argie-bargie.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 3:
There's nae respect. Ah try to gie advice,
But naw! There's that much argie-bargie it
's like nae place on earth but Paddy's Market. Gsw. 1987 James Kelman Greyhound for Breakfast (1988) 96:
He ignored Fat Stanley and Victor. But when he noticed Oanny bringin up the rear he beckoned to him and whispered,
The least bit of argy bargy and you're out the fucking door.w.Dmf. 1917 J. L. Waugh Cute McCheyne, etc. (1929) 89:
The other [hand] gesticulating in front of Tom Reid in an argy-bargy over the amount of his charge.

2. v. To dispute, to haggle. Gen.Sc.Abd. 1928 Nan Shepherd The Quarry Wood 52:
He wad argy-bargy ye intil the middle o' the next week.m.Sc. 1922 J. Buchan Huntingtower xiv.:
I'm ower wise to argy-bargy wi' women.Edb. 2003:
Will youse stop argy-bargying!Rnf. 1993 History on your Doorstep, The Reminiscences of the Ferguslie Elderly Forum 29:
They took taxis to bring the stuff to you. They were 3 auld maids always argy-bargying.w.Dmf. 1910 J. L. Waugh Cracks wi' R. Doo 73:
Sittin' on the corner o' the table, he argy-bargied away, but a' to no purpose.Slk. 1889 J. Brown in Blackw. Mag. CXLVI. 563:
Argy-bargy to the last, Ye'll find there's aye twa ways in't. The vbl.n. argie-bargiein', etc. = disputing, is also in common use.Lnk. 1887 A. Wardrop Midcauther Fair 268:
Siccan an argie-bargiein' . . . you never heard the like o't.