fuss

See also Fuss

English

Etymology

Perhaps from Danish fjas (“nonsense”), from Middle Low German (compare German faseln (“to maunder, talk nonsense”))

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ʌs

Noun

fuss (plural fusses)

1. (countable or uncountable) excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something

   They made a big fuss about the wedding plans.

   What's all the fuss about?

   1. a complaint or noise

      If you make enough of a fuss about the problem, maybe they'll fix it for you.

   2. an exhibition of affection or admiration

      They made a great fuss over the new baby.

Translations

excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something

• Catalan: rebombori (ca) m, gatzara (ca) f, brogit (ca) m, cridòria (ca) f, aldarull (ca) m
• Finnish: hössötys (fi), hämminki (fi), tohina (fi), touhu (fi), touhuaminen (fi), touhotus (fi)
• German: Lärm (de) m, Wirbel (de) m, Aufstand (de) m
• Italian: confusione (it) f, trambusto (it) m, daffare (it) m

• Maori: utiuti (mi)
• Portuguese: estardalhaço (pt)
• Romanian: freamăt (ro) n, agitație (ro) f, frământare (ro) f
• Russian: суета (ru) (sujetá) f , суматоха (ru) (sumatóxa) f 
• Spanish: fandango (es) m, jaleo (es) m, escándalo (es) m
• Welsh: ffwdan

a complaint or noise

• Finnish: meteli (fi), metakka (fi)
• Italian: rumore (it) m, baccano (it) m, chiasso (it) m

• Portuguese: reclamação (pt), bagunça (pt), barulho (pt), fuzuê (pt) m, auê (pt) m (slang)
• Romanian: indispoziție (ro) f, zgomot (ro) n, gălăgie (ro) f

an exhibition of affection or admiration

• Finnish: ihastelu (fi), tohina (fi), touhu (fi), touhotus (fi), vouhotus (fi)
• Italian: scalpore (it) m, entusiasmo (it) m

• Romanian: entuziasm (ro) n

Verb

fuss (third-person singular simple present fusses, present participle fussing, simple past and past participle fussed)

1. (intransitive) To be very worried or excited about something, often too much.

   His grandmother will never quit fussing over his vegetarianism.

2. (intransitive) To fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something

   Quit fussing with your hair. It looks fine.

3. (intransitive, especially of babies) To cry or be ill-humoured.

Translations

to be very worried or excited about something, often too much

• Finnish: hössöttää, touhottaa, tohista (fi)
• Italian: agitarsi (it), affannarsi (it), scalmanarsi (it)

• Romanian: agita (ro), frământa (ro)
• Russian: суетиться (ru) (sujetítʹsja) 

to fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something

• Finnish: hiplata (fi), touhuta (fi), touhottaa (fi)
• Italian: scocciare (it), agitarsi (it), seccare (it)

• Romanian: fâțâi (ro), foi (ro)

Usage notes

• Generally used with with, over, or about.

Verb

fuss

1. (transitive) To show affection for, especially animals.
2. (transitive) To pet.

   He fussed the cat.

Translations

to show affection for

• Finnish: helliä (fi), hellitellä (fi)

to pet

• Finnish: silitellä (fi)

Derived terms

• fussy
• fuss and bother
• no muss no fuss