(pronounced karp)

Out by its lonesome self, your first impression of “carp” most likely focuses on its definition as a fish. However, this schizophrenic word is also a verb meaning to find fault, irritably complain, or raise trivial objections to some thing or situation.

Example: If her boss didn’t stop carping about every little decision she made when trying to get the already overdue set of construction documents out the door, Vivian was going to have a nervous breakdown.