fuss
nounverbcommon in dialogue
- United States//fʌs//
- //fʊs//
Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
noun
- 1
Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
They made a big fuss about the wedding plans.
What's all the fuss about?
Sickness did not last above a ten days; my poor wife zealously assiduous, and with a minimum of fuss or noise.
“Anthea hasn't a notion in her head but to vamp a lot of silly mugwumps. She's set her heart on that tennis bloke[…]whom the papers are making such a fuss about.”
- 2
A complaint or noise; a scene.
If you make enough of a fuss about the problem, maybe they'll fix it for you.
- 3
An exhibition of affection or admiration.
They made a great fuss over the new baby.
Etymology
Of unknown origin. Perhaps from Danish fjas (“nonsense”), from Middle Low German (compare German faseln (“to maunder, talk nonsense”)). Compare also fouse (“to hasten, rush, tumble, disarrange”).
verb
- 1
To be very worried or excited about something, often too much.
His grandmother will never quit fussing over his vegetarianism.
Dear reader, spare me. I don't hate men, I love them; I eat 'em for breakfast. But it seems to me that fussing about masculinity is intimately related to homophobia.
- 2
To fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust
Quit fussing with your hair. It looks fine.
- 3
To disturb (a person)
- 4
To cry or be ill-humoured.
- 5
To show affection for, especially animals.
- 6
To pet.
He fussed the cat.
Forms
- plural
- fusses
- past tense
- fussed
- past participle
- fussed
- present participle
- fussing
- third person singular
- fusses
fuss · Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
fussing · Excessive care; act of one who fusses.fussy · Anxious or particular about petty details; hard to please.Fussy · A commune in Cher department, Centre-Val de Loire, France.