foofaraw

[foo-fuh-raw]

noun

1. a great fuss or disturbance about something very insignificant.

2. an excessive amount of decoration or ornamentation, as on a piece of clothing, a building, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of foofaraw¹

First recorded in 1845–50; originally a regional word on the western frontier of the U.S.; further etymology uncertain; possibly from Spanish fanfarrón, a noun and adjective meaning “braggart, boaster” (perhaps from Arabic farfār “talkative”); perhaps also from French fanfaron, a noun and adjective with the same meanings as the Spanish, the French dialect form fanfarou perhaps also having contributed

Example Sentences

I assumed it was there as a response to all of this foofaraw, but it’s not that at all.

Read more on The Verge

But it’s so dense with serious world literature of every stripe, and so absent trinkets and elaborate bookmarks and candles and other foofaraw, that it’s a Platonic ideal.

Read more on New York Times

Imbroglio, contretemps, foofaraw, brouhaha: News is about contention and disagreement.

Read more on Washington Post

His chances of being elected president of the United States after this foofaraw may safely be put at zero.

Read more on Washington Times

Supreme Court says this amendment is inclusive enough to make campaign contributions a form of free speech, yet there’s now this idiotic foofaraw over Kaepernick’s expression of free speech — merely sitting down.

Read more on Seattle Times

When To Use

Where does foofaraw come from?

A foofaraw is either "a great fuss about something insignificant" or "an excessive amount of decoration."Etymologists think the word, which evidence now suggests is recorded in the American West in the mid-1800s, is based on the French fanfaron, "boastful," and Spanish fanfarrón, "vain, arrogant." These words are apparently meant to sound "showy," like a fanfare.Many more amusing Americanisms await in our slideshow "These Wacky Words Originated In The USA."