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to fuffle

to fuffle

9.9
To act nervously and make a small fuss
  • verb
  • /ˈfʌfəl/
  • Informal
translation icon : agitarse
  • Try not to fuffle so much before interviews; just take a deep breath and stay calm.

Examples

  • Whenever he is anxious, he tends to fuffle by rearranging objects on his desk.

  • She began to fuffle with her notes before giving her presentation to the class.

  • Don't fuffle about with your papers!

  • She fuffles when she's nervous.

  • Before the interview, she started to fuffle with her hair, trying to make it look perfect.

  • He always fuffles when he needs to make a decision, pacing back and forth nervously.

  • Don't fuffle with the remote; just press the button to turn it on.

Synonyms

to fret
vsto fuffle
67 4.2

Make someone feel worried or annoyed about small things

expresses this as visible nervous agitation and small disruptive actions
to fidget
vsto fuffle
26 3.4

To make small nervous movements, often with hands or feet

is broader, involving uneasy behaviour and minor unnecessary agitation
to make a fuss
vsto fuffle
22 3.0

Complain loudly about something small

is quieter nervous or fussy behaviour rather than loud complaint
to fuss
vsto fuffle
19 2.8

To worry too much about small things

focuses more on acting nervously and making a small agitation
to flap
vsto fuffle
  • UK
16 6.3

To get nervous and make a small fuss

is milder, showing small unnecessary agitation rather than noisy behaviour
to kick up a fuss
vsto fuffle
  • Informal
2 6.4

Complain loudly about something small

is quieter and more nervous agitation, not a loud public complaint
to flurry
vsto fuffle
1 4.6

To move quickly in a worried or confused way

is more about slow nervousness and small unnecessary agitation
to get into a tizz
vsto fuffle
  • UK
1 9.6

To become very worried or upset about small things

is a milder small unnecessary agitation rather than heavy flustering
to pother
vsto fuffle
  • Archaic
9.9

Act nervously and make a fuss about something small

is about brief nervous agitation rather than a larger commotion

Antonyms

33 4.7

To calm yourself after strong feelings

How Nervous

to panic
272 2.3
to flap
  • UK
16 6.3
to fuffle
  • Informal
9.9
to fuss
19 2.8
to fidget
26 3.4

Surface Forms

fuffle infinitive
fuffled past
fuffled past participle
fuffling present participle
fuffles third person singular

Etymology

Fuffle as a verb feels like fuss 'a small worry' mixed with fiddle 'to touch or move things', where someone moves objects nervously. That's why to fuffle is to act nervous or make a small, unnecessary fuss.