ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fuss

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈfəs// UK //fˈʌs// fuss

n. a lot of unnecessary excitement, worry, or activity about something that is not very important.

n. excessive or unnecessary excitement, activity, or concern about a trivial matter.


SIMPLE

I don't know what all the fuss is about.

CONTEXTUAL

The hotel staff made a huge fuss over the celebrity, even though she just wanted a quiet room.

COMPLEX

The media created such a fuss over the minor policy change that the actual benefits of the legislation were completely overlooked by the public.

Synonyms
Origin

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”).

Usage

Often used in the singular with 'a' ('make a fuss') or as an uncountable mass ('all the fuss').

Idioms1 entry

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