Basic Details
Word: Pointpolitic
Part of Speech: Adjective (rare / archaic)
Meaning: Excessively precise, overly concerned with trivial details, or overly concerned with being politically correct or punctilious.
Synonyms: Punctilious, meticulous, fastidious, pedantic
Antonyms: Careless, easygoing, informal, indifferent
Idioms and Phrases
- Split hairs: To make fine or overly subtle distinctions, similar to being pointpolitic. Example: "He's always splitting hairs during meetings-classic pointpolitic behavior."
- By the book: Acting strictly according to rules, often in a pointpolitic manner. Example: "The manager is pointpolitic and insists everything be done by the book."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The lawyer's pointpolitic approach frustrated the jury with unnecessary details.
Example 2: She was so pointpolitic about grammar that she corrected people in casual conversations.
Example 3: His pointpolitic attitude made group projects difficult, as he obsessed over minor formatting issues.
Fun Fact
The word "pointpolitic" is a compound of "point" (as in a precise detail) and "politic" (meaning prudent or tactful), and it has roots in early English usage, though it's now largely considered archaic or rare.
Famous Quote
"He was too pointpolitic to let a single comma go unnoticed." Anonymous Grammar Enthusiast
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "pointpolitic" mean?
a) Casual and easygoing
b) Overly concerned with details
c) Politically active
d) Carefree about rules
Answer: b) Overly concerned with details
2. Which of these is a synonym of "pointpolitic"?
a) Fastidious
b) Indifferent
c) Informal
d) Lazy
Answer: a) Fastidious
3. Which is an antonym of "pointpolitic"?
a) Meticulous
b) Pedantic
c) Informal
d) Exacting
Answer: c) Informal
4. Which sentence uses "pointpolitic" correctly?
a) His pointpolitic view helped him focus on the bigger picture.
b) She was pointpolitic about every punctuation mark in the report.
c) Pointpolitic means being carefree in planning.
d) They pointpolitic to the conclusion of the meeting.
Answer: b) She was pointpolitic about every punctuation mark in the report.
5. What does the idiom "by the book" mean in relation to pointpolitic?
a) To act in a careless way
b) To act exactly according to rules or expectations
c) To ignore the rules
d) To write a book
Answer: b) To act exactly according to rules or expectations
