fussiness

Everyday

1. Being hard to please, especially about food, clothes or how things are done. tree →
2. Worrying too much about small details. tree →
3. Having too much decoration, so something looks busy and fiddly. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life «fussiness» usually means fussy eating, refusing foods. In stories it shows a character who is picky or anxious about small things. In art and design it criticises too many decorations. Phrases: fussiness about food, a fussy eater, without fussiness.

Examples

• My little brother's fussiness about food drives Mum mad. tree →
• The cat's fussiness means it only eats one brand. tree →
• Her fussiness about tidy desks helps our group stay organised. tree →
• The teacher said the poster had too much fussiness and needed fewer colours. tree →
• Dad's fussiness over the car makes him wash it every Sunday. tree →
• Fussiness at dinner can mean missing out on new tastes. tree →
• Grandpa laughs at his own fussiness about the remote control. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «his fussiness», not «a fussiness». Made from «fussy» (y → i + -ness). Similar words: pickiness, being choosy. It is not always bad: careful fussiness can stop mistakes.