fuss1 nounfuss2 verb
fussfuss1 /fʌs/ ●○○ noun [singular, uncountable] 
WORD ORIGINfuss1
Origin:
1700-1800 Perhaps from the sound of someone breathing quickly and excitedlyEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Passengers strained to see what all the fuss was about.
- The current fuss about San Jose's proposed downtown arena has been noticed in other parts of the state.
- I liked the novelty and fuss and being the centre of attention.
- Indeed, Carville himself reacted to the fuss by sounding as though he were having second thoughts.
- Seb's father was a large, comfortable-looking man who did not seem disposed to make a fuss.
- She couldn't see why there was all this fuss, or even why her father had to get married at all.
- Then, later, there was all that fuss in the papers about Mark and Anne.
- Yes, in fact Emilou cried, and Wendi had made a fuss about the mascara on my sixty-buck shirt.
Longman Language Activatorto complain a lot in an annoying way
especially British, informal to keep complaining in an annoying way - use this about someone who complains all the time, even about things that are not important: · I'm fed up with hearing you moaning the whole time!moan about: · Why do people always moan about the weather?
to keep complaining in a bad-tempered way, especially when you think you have been treated unfairly: · The old man turned away, grumbling as he went.grumble about: · She was grumbling about having to work so late.· The people standing beside me were grumbling about not being able to find a place to park.
especially British also kick up a fuss British to complain angrily and noisily about something, so that everyone hears you or notices you: · I don't understand why you're making such a fuss. It's not that important.make a fuss about: · The couple sitting next to us made a big fuss about their bill.
British informal to keep complaining about something or someone's behaviour in an annoying way: · Our neighbours are always going on about the noise we make.go on and on about (=for a long time): · Look, I'm sorry I kept you waiting, but there's no need to go on and on about it.
to keep complaining to someone, especially in order to make them do something that they do not want to do: · I wish you'd stop nagging me.nag about: · My mom's always nagging me about my room.nag at: · Jane's boss nags at her all the time.
British informal to keep complaining in an annoying way - use this when someone is complaining about something that is not important or is something they could change if they really wanted to: whinge about: · He's always whinging about being underpaid.· Nick was a pain in the neck. He did nothing but whinge the whole trip.
to keep complaining about something unimportant, especially in a sad, annoying voice: · "What did you do that for?" he whined.· For heaven's sake stop whining. Nobody has touched your precious records.whine about: · He's always whining about how much everything costs.
to make something seem more important than it really is to get upset or angry about something that is not really very important: · It won't cost much to repair the damage, so there's no need to make such a fuss.make a fuss about: · Be quiet. You're all making a fuss about nothing.
also make a big deal out of to argue about something that is not really very important, so that it seems to be important: · Hilary was upset about not being promoted, but she didn't want to make an issue of it.· It really was just a temporary lapse - there's no need to make a big deal out of it.
to make a problem seem worse and more important than it really is: · She was only five minutes late! You're making a mountain out of a molehill.
to talk about something so much that it seems more important than it really is: · You're making too much of this - it's really not worth out falling out over.
to treat someone very kindly or too kindly to treat someone, especially a child, too kindly and give them everything they want whether they should have it or not, so that they behave badly: · You're spoiling that kid. He's getting cheeky and selfish.spoil somebody rotten (=spoil someone very much): · Danny was her favourite grandson and she spoiled him rotten.
to look after a person or animal very kindly, and spend a lot of time trying to make them happy and comfortable, sometimes in a way that is not good for their health or character: · She really pampers that dog - it's even got its own little bed next to hers.pamper yourself: · Take some time out to pamper yourself with an aromatherapy massage.
British to look after someone very well and pay a lot of attention to them: · When I came out of hospital and got back home, everyone made a great fuss of me and I loved it.· My sister was jealous because Dad made such a fuss of me.· I enjoyed having people fussing over me - it made me feel important.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
James said he’d better be getting back or there’d be a fuss. The Steamatic enables you to clean any carpet with the minimum of fuss. Until I heard her sing I couldn’t see what all the fuss was about (=why people liked it so much). I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss about it.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
James said he’d better be getting back or there’d be a fuss. The Steamatic enables you to clean any carpet with the minimum of fuss. Until I heard her sing I couldn’t see what all the fuss was about (=why people liked it so much). I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss about it. (=with very little anxious behaviour or activity)· They checked our passports with the minimum of fuss.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· I don't see what the big fuss is all about.· Catherine, so quit making this damn big fuss, woman, fah Cyrise sake!· She was probably making a big fuss about very little, said a small voice inside her.· My birthday was really tough because Peter always made a big fuss of it.· We don't make a big public fuss but he answers our questions, and we answer his.· They all thought she was gorgeous and they were all making a big fuss.
· There's a great fuss going on, isn't there?· Certainly the letters he had written home had made no great fuss about the child's death.· Birthdays Old people either dislike having a great fuss made of their birthdays or they love every minute of it.· She thought yet again: I make a great fuss of nothing, and have not suffered at all.· We do make a great deal of fuss when children fail to match our expectations particularly when standards of behaviour are concerned.
· And if you've got more than one speaker it must be adjustable with minimum fuss.· For home waxing, Immac Warm Wax, £7.99, whisks away hair with minimum fuss.
VERB· This is the story that caused all the fuss.
· It might be partly because I didn't kick up a fuss when I lost the captaincy.· Yet when pedestrianisation was first announced the city's shopkeepers, taxi drivers and disabled groups kicked up a fuss.
· Don't make a fuss but don't be a martyr.· I do not make a fuss, I do not rant and splutter.· Yes, in fact Emilou cried, and Wendi had made a fuss about the mascara on my sixty-buck shirt.· He'd make an awful fuss.· When you arrive, you or your advocate should make a fuss.
· I don't see what the big fuss is all about.· Then the old female golden eagle came out into the gloom to see what the fuss was.· Travellers would go miles out of their way to see what all the fuss was about.· No, I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.· Then first one, then another and finally eight cabbies all wandered over to see what the fuss was.
· A decade from now we might, as you suggest, be wondering what all the fuss was about.· Some visitors to the World Wide Web wonder what all the fuss is about.· In the event, the Ventura users are probably wondering what all the fuss is about.· Not bad, you think, but you wonder what all the fuss was about.· We both pissed ourselves laughing afterwards, wondering what all the fuss was about.· Spending time with them, I too began to wonder what the fuss was about.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► make a fuss/kick up a fuss (about something)PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1anxious behaviour or activity that is usually about unimportant things: - And if there is one thing that West London hotels particularly enjoy, it is making a fuss of Joe Jackson.
- And Katie started crying all over again just so that he would make a fuss of her.
- And making a fuss of me because they knew that my stitches had burst.
- But making a fuss of Mum shouldn't be restricted to just one day of the year!
- She was still very nervous, though Mrs. Castell knew to make a fuss of her.
- Southall waits for me now when I arrive and make a fuss of me - I can even hug Kizzy.
- That's why I made a fuss of him when we got married.
- It's financial clout that counts or, failing that, kicking up a stink.
- It's for your protection, so that you have the union behind you if Mellowes kicks up a stink.
- It might be partly because I didn't kick up a fuss when I lost the captaincy.
- It will still contain plenty of business and mortgage borrowers to kick up a stink about base rates.
- Yet when pedestrianisation was first announced the city's shopkeepers, taxi drivers and disabled groups kicked up a fuss.
- It would be nice if income tax could be figured out in half an hour - no muss, no fuss.
James said he’d better be getting back or there’d be a fuss. The Steamatic enables you to clean any carpet with the minimum of fuss.2attention or excitement that is usually unnecessary or unwelcome: They wanted a quiet wedding without any fuss. Until I heard her sing I couldn’t see what all the fuss was about (=why people liked it so much).3make a fuss/kick up a fuss (about something) to complain or become angry about something, especially when this is not necessary: Josie kicked up a fuss because the soup was too salty. I don’t know why you’re making such a fuss about it.4make a fuss of somebody/something British English, make a fuss over somebody/something American English to pay a lot of attention to someone or something, to show that you are pleased with them or like them: Make a fuss of your dog when he behaves properly.fuss1 nounfuss2 verb
fussfuss2 verb [intransitive] 1to worry a lot about things that may not be very important: I wish you’d stop fussing – I’ll be perfectly all right.2to pay too much attention to small unimportant detailsfuss with/around/about Paul was fussing with his clothes, trying to get his tie straight.3American English to behave in an unhappy or angry way: The baby woke up and started to fuss.fuss over somebody/something phrasal verb to pay a lot of attention or too much attention to someone or something, especially to show that you are pleased with them or like them: His aunts fussed over him all the time.