言いいがかり

noun

false accusation; trumped-up charge; pretext; picking a quarrel

Used when someone makes an unfounded claim or starts a fight over a trivial or fabricated reason. Often appears in phrases like 言いがかりをつける (to pick a quarrel or make a false accusation).

• 彼かれはささいなことで言いいがかりをつけてきた。

  He picked a quarrel with me over something trivial.

• それは全まったくの言いいがかりだ。

  That's a completely false accusation.

noun

statement one cannot take back; irrevocable remark

Refers to a statement that, once made, cannot be retracted or undone. Less common than sense 1; often used in contexts where one must take responsibility for one's words.

• 一いち度ど口くちにした言いいがかりは取とり消けせない。

  Once you've said it, you can't take back that statement.