foofaraw

[ foo-fuh-raw ]

noun

1. a great fuss or disturbance about something very insignificant.
2. an excessive amount of decoration or ornamentation, as on a piece of clothing, a building, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of foofaraw¹

First recorded in 1845–50; originally a regional word on the western frontier of the U.S.; further etymology uncertain; possibly from Spanish fanfarrón, a noun and adjective meaning “braggart, boaster” (perhaps from Arabic farfār “talkative”); perhaps also from French fanfaron, a noun and adjective with the same meanings as the Spanish, the French dialect form fanfarou perhaps also having contributed

Example Sentences

I assumed it was there as a response to all of this foofaraw, but it’s not that at all.

From The Verge

But it’s so dense with serious world literature of every stripe, and so absent trinkets and elaborate bookmarks and candles and other foofaraw, that it’s a Platonic ideal.

From New York Times

Imbroglio, contretemps, foofaraw, brouhaha: News is about contention and disagreement.

From Washington Post

His chances of being elected president of the United States after this foofaraw may safely be put at zero.

From Washington Times

Supreme Court says this amendment is inclusive enough to make campaign contributions a form of free speech, yet there’s now this idiotic foofaraw over Kaepernick’s expression of free speech — merely sitting down.

From Seattle Times

More About Foofaraw

Where does foofaraw come from?

A foofaraw is either “a great fuss about something insignificant” or “an excessive amount of decoration.”

Etymologists think the word, which evidence now suggests is recorded in the American West in the mid-1800s, is based on the French fanfaron, “boastful,” and Spanish fanfarrón, “vain, arrogant.” These words are apparently meant to sound “showy,” like a fanfare.

Many more amusing Americanisms await in our slideshow “These Wacky Words Originated In The USA.”

Did you know … ?

Foofaraw’s notion of making a big deal out of something insignificant is similar to the expression make a mountain out of a molehill. And foofaraw’s sense of excessive decoration can be conveyed using the noun forms of such adjectives as garish, gaudy, or ostentatious.

And if you’re looking for more synonyms for foofaraw, make some commotion or fuss on Thesaurus.com. Flaunt your vocab; we don’t think it’s showy. (See what we did there?)