What it means
Argy-bargy is that low-level drama where people are having a row, lots of shouting, a bit of jostling, but it usually fizzles out fast. You’ll hear it for pub spats, football queues, or neighbours squabbling over parking. It’s not a full-on fight, more a noisy kerfuffle that’s all sound and fury.
Usage examples
"There was proper argy-bargy outside the chippy, two blokes kicking off about who was next, then calm as you like sharing chips."
"There was a bit of argy-bargy at the bar over who was next, nothing serious, just two blokes and too many pints."
"Skip the argy-bargy, lads, we will sort the rota like grown-ups instead of bickering all morning."
Where it comes from
This bouncy little phrase grew out of Scots, where an older pair argle-bargle was already knocking about, both halves playing off the word argue. The rhyme does the work, that back and forth sound of two people squabbling, so it stuck and spread across British English for any noisy little ruckus.
Other ways to say it
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