Phrase guide

count angels on pinheads

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To focus on obtaining the correct details of something which are largely irrelevant or unimportant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: discutir sobre el sexe dels àngels — to spend time on fruitless intellectual matters
  • Finnish: laskea neulan kärjellä tanssivia enkeleitä — to spend time on fruitless intellectual matters
  • French: discuter du sexe des anges — to spend time on fruitless intellectual matters
  • Italian: discutere del sesso degli angeli — to spend time on fruitless intellectual matters
  • Polish: przegapiać sedno — to spend time on fruitless intellectual matters
  • Portuguese: discutir o sexo dos anjos — to spend time on fruitless intellectual matters
  • Portuguese: debater o sexo dos anjos — to spend time on fruitless intellectual matters
  • Spanish: discutir sobre el sexo de los ángeles — to spend time on fruitless intellectual matters