fussyfuss‧y /ˈfʌsi/ (comparative fussier, superlative fussiest) adjective 
Examples
Sue was fussy about her looks. A lot of small children are fussy eaters (=they dislike many types of food). ‘Do you want to go out or just rent a movie?’ ‘I’m not fussy’ (=I don’t mind).2fussy clothes, objects, buildings etc are very detailed and decorated – used to show disapproval OPP plain, simple: The furniture looked comfortable, nothing fussy or too elaborate.3with small, exact, and careful actions, sometimes showing nervousness: She patted her hair with small fussy movements.—fussily adverb—fussiness noun [uncountable]
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- fussy wallpaper
- a fussy baby
- Although he spent three years writing these songs, the album does not sound fussy or labored.
- He's very fussy about his drinks being served in the right kind of glass.
- I've become much more fussy about how I draw the characters.
- My grandmother was a notoriously fussy housekeeper.
- A bossy, fussy girl with only a few friends, she frustrated and alienated even the people who loved her most.
- But from what I hear he was too fussy for his own good.
- Even those who attempt to split the difference are not too fussy about where the line is drawn.
- If you wear your own clothes, try to make them smart and not too fussy.
Longman Language Activatorwhen you are very careful about choosing things► choosy
Collocations informal someone who is choosy chooses things carefully and only wants the things they think are the best: · I get offered a lot of work now, so I can be more choosy.choosy about: · She's very choosy about what airline she travels on.
► fussy/picky informal someone who is fussy or picky is difficult to please because they only like a few things and will only accept exactly what they want: · Maybe I'm too picky, but all the guys I meet seem so boring.fussy/picky about: · She was always very fussy about her clothes.picky/fussy eater (=someone who will only eat the few things they like): · We're not really picky eaters, but we don't eat much fast food.
► be particular about to be very careful about choosing only the very best of something, or only exactly what you like, usually with the result that people think you are too careful about it: be particular about about: · He's very particular about the clothes he buys.be particular about what/where etc: · Monica is particular about what she eats - no meat, and only organic vegetables.
► selective someone who is selective chooses things very carefully because they want to choose the best, most suitable etc: · You've got to be very selective when choosing a roommate.selective about: · People are becoming more and more selective about the food they eat these days.
► shop around informal to look at or try several different possibilities before choosing the one which is the best, cheapest etc: · Never buy the first car you see. Always shop around.· Shop around a little bit before you choose a therapist.shop around for: · You should shop around for a better price.
too concerned with small details► pedantic too concerned with rules and details that most people do not think are important: · Don't be so pedantic - does it really matter if I don't pronounce it right?· The papers were stacked with pedantic neatness on his desk.· The booklet that accompanies the CD is informative and scholarly, without being pedantic.
► fussy someone who is fussy is too concerned with unimportant details of correctness, neatness, comfort etc and is hard to please: · My grandmother was a notoriously fussy housekeeper.· Although he spent three years writing these songs, the album does not sound fussy or labored.fussy about: · He's very fussy about his drinks being served in the right kind of glass.
when you do not care because you will be happy whatever happens► don't mind British /don't care American to not care because you will be happy with whatever happens or with whatever someone decides: · "What would you like to do tonight?" "I don't mind. You decide."· "Do you want white bread or wheat?" "I don't care. Either one is fine."don't mind where/what/how etc: · Honestly, I don't mind whether Linda comes with us or not.· They won't care if we're a few minutes late.
► be not fussy especially British, spoken to not care what happens or what is decided, especially when someone has asked you what you would prefer: · "Do you want to sit in the front seat or the back?'' "I'm not fussy.''be not fussy where/what/which etc: · I'm not fussy where I stay, as long as it's cheap.be not fussy about: · She's not fussy about what kind of car she drives.· He's not very fussy about his appearance, is he?
► it makes no difference to me/it doesn't bother me/it's all the same to me spoken say this when you do not mind what happens because it does not affect you or cause you any problems: · You can come on Thursday or Friday -- it makes no difference to me.· We can go out to eat if you want - it's all the same to me.· Mamet says it makes no difference to him what a movie costs, as long as it's a good movie.
► I'm easy spoken informal say this when someone asks you which one of two things you would prefer, and you want to tell them that you do not mind what is decided: · "Do you want to watch the news or the late night film?'' "I'm easy.''
► it's no skin off my nose spoken say this when you do not care what someone else does because it does not affect you in any way: · It's no skin off our nose if they don't want to come along.· If my sister wants to throw her money away, then fine. It's no skin off my nose.
► suit yourself spoken say this when someone has told you what they are going to do, and even though you do not think it is a good idea, you do not care whether they do it or not: · "I think I'll just stay home tonight." "Suit yourself."· "Do you mind if I sit here?'' "Suit yourself,'' she said, without looking up.
someone who only eats certain types of food► be a fussy/picky eater to refuse to eat particular types of food and only eat food that you especially like: · Stan's such a picky eater; it's impossible to know what to cook for him.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a picky/fussy eater
Phrases (=someone who will only eat a few particular things, and is difficult to please)· My son’s a very picky eater, and only eats bread and peanut butter.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► too· But from what I hear he was too fussy for his own good.· Even those who attempt to split the difference are not too fussy about where the line is drawn.· If you wear your own clothes, try to make them smart and not too fussy.· Cultivation: The plant is not too fussy about the planting medium.· Hang those on big glass? Too fussy.· I want to avoid anything too fussy as my bathroom's tiny.· I don't like anything too fussy.· Matthias was not too fussy about how he went about his book-collecting.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► big/light/fussy etc eater
1very concerned about small, usually unimportant details, and difficult to pleasefussy about- During the time she was living with the Abramses, Katelyn was happy and a big eater, Carter said.
- While never a big eater, he did tend to snack it through the day and night.
Sue was fussy about her looks. A lot of small children are fussy eaters (=they dislike many types of food). ‘Do you want to go out or just rent a movie?’ ‘I’m not fussy’ (=I don’t mind).2fussy clothes, objects, buildings etc are very detailed and decorated – used to show disapproval OPP plain, simple: The furniture looked comfortable, nothing fussy or too elaborate.3with small, exact, and careful actions, sometimes showing nervousness: She patted her hair with small fussy movements.—fussily adverb—fussiness noun [uncountable]