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Glite Dictionary
💥 A fuss 😣 To fuss 😠 To upset
to pother

to pother

9.9
Act nervously and make a fuss about something small
  • verb
  • /ˈpɑːðər/
  • Archaic
translation icon : alboroto
  • There's no need to pother over such a small mistake.

Examples

  • Stop pothering and just get started on the work.

  • She always pothers about her lost keys.

  • She pothered all afternoon about the seating arrangements for the dinner.

  • Don't pother over small details!

  • There's no need to pother over such a small mistake.

  • Stop pothering and just get started on the work.

  • She pothered all afternoon about the seating arrangements for the dinner.

Synonyms

to gripe
vsto pother
  • Informal
38 5.6

To complain repeatedly about small things

stresses physical agitation or fussing rather than ongoing verbal gripes
to make a fuss
vsto pother
22 3.0

Complain loudly about something small

is similar but does not require loud attention seeking
to fuss
vsto pother
19 2.8

To worry too much about small things

is more about becoming visibly agitated over trivial things
to flap
vsto pother
  • UK
16 6.3

To get nervous and make a small fuss

is more about outward agitation rather than just anxious feeling
to whinge
vsto pother
  • UK
5 8.1

To complain in an annoying way about small things

involves visible agitation and fussing rather than steady verbal complaint
to kvetch
vsto pother
  • Informal
4 9.9

To complain often about small things

leans more toward sudden agitation or fretful behavior than long complaint
to kick up a fuss
vsto pother
  • Informal
2 6.4

Complain loudly about something small

is focused on agitation or worry rather than making a loud scene
to fuffle
vsto pother
  • Informal
9.9

To act nervously and make a small fuss

is broader, meaning a general visible agitation about trivial issues

How Agitated

to panic
272 2.3
to agitate
42 4.8
to fluster
3 5.5
to pother
  • Archaic
9.9
to fuss
19 2.8
to fidget
26 3.4

Surface Forms

pother infinitive
pothered past
pothered past participle
pothering present participle
pothers third person singular

Etymology

Pother probably comes from older local words meaning 'confused noise' and is very like bother, a common word for annoyance; imagine someone making a noisy fuss about a small thing. So to pother is to make a lot of fuss or get agitated over something trivial.