Dictionary

fuss en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /fʊs/ (Northern-England)
• /fʌs/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

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”).

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
   • What's all the fuss about?
   • They made a big fuss about the wedding plans.
   • Sickness did not last above a ten days; my poor wife zealously assiduous, and with a minimum of fuss or noise. 1866 (date written), Thomas Carlyle, “Jane Welsh Carlyle”, in James Anthony Froude, editor, Reminiscences, volume II, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1881, →OCLC, page 158:
   • “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.” 1935, George Goodchild, chapter 1, in Death on the Centre Court:
   • But in the reader comments section beneath the FT piece, many couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. “I’m surprised to see the FT reporting this sort of thing,” one person wrote. 2018 January 25, Amelia Gentleman, “Men-only clubs and menace: how the establishment maintains male power”, in the Guardian:
2. (countable, uncountable) A complaint or noise; a scene.
   • If you make enough of a fuss about the problem, maybe they'll fix it for you.
3. (countable, uncountable) An exhibition of affection or admiration.
   • They made a great fuss over the new baby.

Forms

Deriveds

fussless · kick up a fuss · fuss-budget · fuss-budgetry

Synonyms

unrest · fracas · hoo-hah · shindy · rumpus · chaos · pother · fuss · riot · kerfuffle · tomfoolery · stir · clatter · disturbance · brouhaha · ferment · upstir · furor · hobbleshaw · stooshie · to-do · to-do · flutter · uproar · turmoil · merry hell · three-ring circus · rowdydow · flap · disruption · tumult · commotion · splatterdash · mayhem · clamour · pandemonium · palaver · bobbery · bustle · trouble · shemozzle · bangarang · hubbub · outcry · ruckus · bust-up · foofaraw · argy-bargy · hullabaloo · quarrel · bunfight · ado · hoo-ha · hubbub · hurly-burly

Translations (103)

de Aufstand (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · gl barullo (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ro frământare (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · de Lärm (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · it rumore (a complaint or noise) · pt confusão (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ru шум (a complaint or noise) · es esparajismo (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fi ihastelu (an exhibition of affection or admiration) · el φασαρία (a complaint or noise) · el σαματάς (a complaint or noise) · mi amuamu (a complaint or noise) · cy ffwdan (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · it scalpore (an exhibition of affection or admiration) · ro zgomot (a complaint or noise) · es quilombo (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · bg суетене (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ca brogit (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fi touhu (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · pt reclamação (a complaint or noise) · es cuentos (a complaint or noise) · pt auê (a complaint or noise) · ca romanços (a complaint or noise) · hu fakszni (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · es jaleo (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · es pamento (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ga fothragadh (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ca aldarull (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fi meteli (a complaint or noise) · mi utiuti (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ca cridòria (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · de Geschrei (a complaint or noise) · no kjas (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · de Gehabe (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fi metakka (a complaint or noise) · de Wirbel (a complaint or noise) · ru шуми́ха (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · es escándalo (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · tr telaş (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · es aspaviento (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ro gălăgie (a complaint or noise) · el αναστάτωση (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fi touhu (an exhibition of affection or admiration) · fi touhotus (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · el αναταραχή (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fi touhuaminen (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · de Theater (a complaint or noise) · de Wirbel (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · es espaviento (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · hu felzúdulás (a complaint or noise) · el σαματάς (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · cs povyk (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fi tohina (an exhibition of affection or admiration) · hu felhajtás (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · it confusione (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · bg врява (a complaint or noise) · tr yaygara (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ru суета́ (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · pt barulho (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ro freamăt (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · hu botrány (a complaint or noise) · ro entuziasm (an exhibition of affection or admiration) · it trambusto (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ru сыр-бор (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · hu jelenet (a complaint or noise) · pdt Kracheel (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · es milagrón (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ru представле́ние (a complaint or noise) · hu balhé (a complaint or noise) · de Trubel (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fi tohina (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fi touhotus (an exhibition of affection or admiration) · pt fuzuê (a complaint or noise) · it daffare (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fi vouhotus (an exhibition of affection or admiration) · es fandango (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · hu lárma (a complaint or noise) · hu hűhó (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · bg шум (a complaint or noise) · ca gatzara (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · it chiasso (a complaint or noise) · mi kōamuamu (a complaint or noise) · es chorradas (a complaint or noise) · pt barulho (a complaint or noise) · ru сумато́ха (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · it baccano (a complaint or noise) · pt rebuliço (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · bg шетня (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fr histoires (a complaint or noise) · fi hössötys (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ro indispoziție (a complaint or noise) · it entusiasmo (an exhibition of affection or admiration) · fi hämminki (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · es quilombo (a complaint or noise) · el φασαρία (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ro agitație (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · pt bagunça (a complaint or noise) · es alharaca (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · ca rebombori (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · el αναμπουμπούλα (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · fr agitation (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · tr velvele (excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something) · de ein Fass aufmachen (an exhibition of affection or admiration)

fuss en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /fʊs/ (Northern-England)
• /fʌs/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

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”).

Meanings

1. (intransitive) 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. 1984 December 29, Duncan Mitchel, “The Cult of Gay Machismo”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 25, page 9:
2. (intransitive) To fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust
   • Quit fussing with your hair. It looks fine.
3. (transitive) To disturb (a person)
4. (US, especially, intransitive, of babies) To cry or be ill-humoured.
5. (intransitive, with over) To show affection for, especially animals.
6. (transitive) To pet.
   • He fussed the cat.

Forms

Deriveds

fussbutton · fuss over · fusspot · fussable · fuss around · fussbudget · fussy · fusser · no muss no fuss · fuss and bother

Translations (46)

hu babrál (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · it agitarsi (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · hu nagy hűhót csap (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · fi touhottaa (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · fi hellitellä (to show affection for) · ota تتیزلنمك (to be ill-humoured) · fi tohista (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · ro frământa (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · bg тревожа се (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · pl przejmować się (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · ro foi (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · it agitarsi (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · pl przeżywać (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · it scocciare (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · bg щурам се (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · hu igazgat (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · ro fâțâi (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · hu izgul (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · hu nagy faksznit csinál (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · ru переживать (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · fi touhottaa (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · ru возиться (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · fr s’empresser (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · bg безпокоя се (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · de verrückt sein (nach) (to show affection for) · fi hiplata (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · de fummeln (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · pl srać się (vulg) (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · fr tracasser (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · it seccare (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · el ανησυχώ (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · ru суети́ться (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · fi helliä (to show affection for) · bg суетя се (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · el χαϊδεύω (to pet) · de streicheln (to pet) · fi touhuta (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · hu matat (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · fr s’agiter (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · it affannarsi (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · hu vacakol (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something) · fi hössöttää (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · ro agita (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · fi silitellä (to pet) · it scalmanarsi (to be very worried or excited about something, often too much) · el πειράζω (to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something)