argument

ar|gu|ment

W1S1 [ˈa:gjumənt US ˈa:r-] n

1.)

a situation in which two or more people disagree, often angrily

= ↑disagreement argument with

▪ I broke the vase during an argument with my husband.

argument about/over

▪ an argument about who was responsible for the accident

▪ Henning told the police that she and her husband had an argument before he left.

▪ I got into an argument with the other driver.

▪ Shelton and the woman had a heated argument (=very angry one) .

▪ a fierce argument between the two politicians

win/lose an argument

▪ The party hopes to win the argument about how to reform the health system.

2.)

a set of reasons that show that something is true or untrue, right or wrong etc

▪ We need to provide a convincing argument as to why the system should be changed.

argument for/against

▪ a powerful argument against smoking

▪ A good argument can be made for comparing the IT revolution with the invention of writing itself.

▪ the arguments in favour of banning tobacco advertising

argument that

▪ the familiar argument that the costs outweigh the benefits

3.) [U]

when you disagree with something or question whether it is right

do sth without (further) argument

▪ Ian accepted the suggestion without argument.

for the sake of argument

(=in order to discuss all the possibilities)

▪ If, for the sake of argument, you aren't offered the job, what will you do?