a cajoling niggle

English translation: repeated pleading/tempting/begging nag

11:01 Dec 11, 2003

English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]

English term or phrase: a cajoling niggle

It was a cross between a noisome whine and a cajoling niggle, three syllables long, and delivered in a sotto moan.

vkan

Selected answer:repeated pleading/tempting/begging nag

Explanation:
3 syllables long - nag, nag, nag!
cajoling is softer, more insistent than a noisy whine (thinking of my daughter when she wants something, please, please, please!)

I'm not even going to think about the context, but this 3 syllable sound is both noisy and soft, whiny and seductive, and constant/repeated/nag

hth!!

Selected response from:

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:37

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

3 +2

repeated pleading/tempting/begging nag

jerrie

Ways of urging someone to do something (a horrible whining noise and chivvying someone along)

chica nueva

Answers

12 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

repeated pleading/tempting/begging nag

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:37
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 773

23 hrs confidence:

Ways of urging someone to do something (a horrible whining noise and chivvying someone along)

Explanation:
chivvy = 1 to fret, worry, nag 2 to manipulate

cajole = to persuade someone to do something they might not want to do, by pleasant talk and (sometimes false) promises eg He really knows how to cajole people into doing what he wants. I managed to cajole her out of leaving too early. The most effective technique is to cajole rather than to threaten.

niggle (criticise) = to criticise someone about small details or give too much attention to details. eg She niggles endlessly over the exact pronunciation. The accounts department is niggling me for ten cents they say I owe them.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

chica nueva
Local time: 04:37
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 83

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