make a fuss

1. Cause a needless commotion or display, as in I'm sure he'll be here soon; please don't make a fuss . It is also often put as , as in He's making a fuss about nothing , or If you make a fuss over the small budget items, what will it be like when we discuss the big ones? The idiom dates from about 1800, although the use of fuss in this sense is a century older.

2. make a fuss over someone . Treat someone with excessive attention, solicitude, or affection, as in Whenever they visit Grandma she makes a fuss over the children . [1920s]

Example Sentences

Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page says she initially stayed silent after being groped by a TV host because she did not want to "make a fuss".

From BBC

"It's all very well saying 'you've got to do this, you've got to do that' but you're a woman, you're in there and it's so hard to get jobs anyway and you don't want to make a fuss," she explained.

From BBC

Instead, they'd rather make a fuss over their special guests.

From BBC

He didn’t want to make a fuss.

From Los Angeles Times

Winslet: The truth is I guess we kind of had to learn the hard way, because when you’re a young actress coming up in the industry, “Oh, you don’t make a fuss. No, no, no, don’t be difficult. Don’t get a reputation.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• afflict 
• agitate 
• annoy 
• burden 
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• disturb 
• irk 
• irritate 
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• perturb 
• plague 
• sadden 
• strain 
• torment 
• upset 
• vex