hairsplit

To make fine distinctions concerning.

The real criticism of your article is not only your attitude of mind as expressed therein, but also in dealing with details and inclination to hairsplit minor matters

This would lend support to the view that it would be unrealistic to hairsplit various activities of an educational institution to ferret out if any one of them, by itself, involves profit-making.

To split hairs.

How vividly with the recital of these old customs memory reverts to the other quaint and fantastic forms New England piety took on — to the pastor who could hairsplit by the hour 'twixt Free Will and Election

We are not disposed to refine and hairsplit so as to nullify these wise provisions of the statute

A fine distinction.

It's an arguable distinction, but I think it's a hairsplit.

I do not think the Constitution should go into working détails or hairsplits that may be necessary when some of the various rights which it defines are rationalized out to their ultimate extrêmes.