Fuss vs Muss - What's the difference?
fuss | muss |
Excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something.
* (Thomas Carlyle) (1795-1881)
*{{quote-book, year=1935, author=
, title=Death on the Centre Court, chapter=1
, passage=“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
# A complaint or noise.
# An exhibition of affection or admiration.
One who is unduly anxious about trifles.
* (1837-1920)
To be very worried or excited about something, often too much.
To fiddle; fidget; wiggle, or adjust; to worry something
(especially of babies) To cry or be ill-humoured.
To show affection for, especially animals.
To pet.
to rumple, tousle or make (something) untidy
a disorderly mess
(obsolete) A scramble, as when small objects are thrown down, to be taken by those who can seize them; a confused struggle.
In transitive terms the difference between fuss and muss
is that fuss is to pet while muss is to rumple, tousle or make (something) untidy.As nouns the difference between fuss and muss
is that fuss is excessive activity, worry, bother, or talk about something while muss is a disorderly mess.As verbs the difference between fuss and muss
is that fuss is to be very worried or excited about something, often too much while muss is to rumple, tousle or make (something) untidy.fuss
English
Noun
(es)- zealously, assiduously, and with a minimum of fuss or noise
George Goodchild
- I am a fuss and I don't deny it.
Verb
(es)- His grandmother will never quit fussing over his vegetarianism.
- Quit fussing with your hair. It looks fine.
Usage notes
* Generally used with with, over, or about.Verb
(head)- He fussed the cat.
Derived terms
* fussy * fuss and bother * no muss no fussReferences
muss
English
Etymology 1
Verb
(es)Noun
(es)- (Shakespeare)