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”).
1
Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
They made a big fuss about the wedding plans.
What's all the fuss about?
3 more examples
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
A complaint or noise; a scene.
If you make enough of a fuss about the problem, maybe they'll fix it for you.
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”).
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.1984 December 29, Duncan Mitchel, “The Cult of Gay Machismo”, in Gay Community News, volume 12, number 25, page 9:
2
To fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust
Quit fussing with your hair. It looks fine.
3
To disturb (a person)
4
US, Especially, Of babies To cry or be ill-humoured.
5
With over To show affection for, especially animals.