fussy person

Meanings

1. 1phrasecountabledisapproving

   Someone who cares a lot about small details and is hard to please.

   Grammar: A countable phrase: a fussy person, two fussy people.

   Patterns

   • a fussy person about something
   • be a fussy person

   My uncle is a fussy person who sends back his food if it is not hot.

   She is a fussy person about how the table is arranged.

   As a fussy person, he checks every detail of the plan twice.

2. 2phrasecountable

   Someone who is very careful and attentive about small things, such as their clothes or health.

   Grammar: This sense can be neutral or mildly approving, depending on the situation.

   Patterns

   • a fussy person about something
   • be fussy about something

   He is a fussy person about his appearance and never leaves the house untidy.

   She was a fussy person about safety and checked the wires herself.

Common combinations

a fussy eater

Their son is a fussy eater and refuses most vegetables.

be fussy about something

She is very fussy about the temperature of her tea.

not a fussy person

I am not a fussy person, so any seat is fine.

too fussy

He is too fussy to enjoy a simple picnic.

Synonyms and how they differ

picky

More informal and often used about food or choices; 'fussy' is broader and can describe a whole personality.

particular

Sounds more neutral and positive; it stresses having clear standards rather than being difficult.

finicky

Close in meaning but a little stronger and more disapproving, often about details.

Opposites

Word family

fuss noun

Unnecessary excitement or attention about small things.

fussily adverb

In a way that shows too much concern about details.

fussiness noun

The quality of being hard to please about small things.

Commonly confused: fussy person or fuzzy?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “fussy person”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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