fuss off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fuss off" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misinterpretation of the phrase "buzz off," which is used to tell someone to go away or leave you alone. Example: "When he wouldn't stop bothering me, I finally told him to fuss off."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

C1 Business Digest C2 EDITORIAL A18-19 EditoriaLookLook to Virginia, not China; when the big guys fuss; off the road to Burma; Adam Cohen on Charles Colson.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In another video, the artist, looking like a 1920's vamp, cavorts semi-provocatively around on a chaise to the sound of an infant fussing off camera.

The New York Times - Arts

The fuss scared off some donor countries that were already looking for excuses to cut back on foreign aid because of the global economic crisis.

The New York Times - Health

The second morning, though she fussed at being dropped off, I was able to leave after half an hour.

The New York Times

If you'd rather not fuss with scripts, you can download a program that will let you toggle your desktop on and off.

WikiHow

The Moroccans fussed over a face-off between their representatives and members of the Polisario Front, which is campaigning to free Western Sahara from Moroccan control.

The Economist

At the Oratorio, at least, they don't let them go to the dogs, and they teach them to be decent, even if they do make too much fuss about jerking off, but that doesn't matter because you all do it anyway, and at most you confess it later.

The New Yorker

Fussing to keep mayonnaise off William's sandwiches and poultices on Rowan's poison ivy.

The New York Times

Just be sure you're not fussed about the paint or varnish coming off furniture or other items when the tape is removed, just in case.

WikiHow

He didn't fuss.

The New Yorker

"We start dogs off young, but cats never have the opportunity to get used to them, so when they finally do wear them, they fuss".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to tell someone to go away, use "buzz off" instead of "fuss off". "Buzz off" is a common and widely understood idiom for this purpose.

Common error

Avoid using "fuss off" when you mean to tell someone to leave. The correct idiom is "buzz off", which is a dismissive way of asking someone to go away.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fuss off" is generally considered non-idiomatic and grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI explains, it's likely a misinterpretation of the idiom "buzz off". Therefore, it doesn't serve a recognized grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fuss off" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English and is likely a misinterpretation of the idiom "buzz off". As Ludwig AI indicates, it is best to avoid using "fuss off" and instead opt for more established alternatives like "buzz off", "go away", or "leave me alone" to effectively convey the intended meaning of asking someone to leave or stop bothering you. While there's limited contextual information, it's safe to categorize as a rare phrase with uncertain implications for formal use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

buzz off

A more common and direct way to tell someone to go away.

go away

A simple and straightforward command to leave.

leave me alone

Expresses a desire for solitude and to not be bothered.

get lost

A somewhat rude but clear way to tell someone to disappear.

stop bothering me

Directly addresses the annoyance caused by someone's actions.

quit pestering me

Highlights the irritating and persistent nature of the disturbance.

give me a break

Implies that someone is being overly demanding or annoying.

take a hike

An informal and somewhat dismissive way to tell someone to leave.

get out of here

A directive to immediately exit the current location.

scram

A slang term for leaving quickly and without delay.

FAQs

Is "fuss off" grammatically correct?

No, "fuss off" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It appears to be a misinterpretation of the phrase "buzz off", which is used to tell someone to go away or leave you alone.

What does "buzz off" mean, and how does it differ from "fuss off"?

"Buzz off" is an idiom that means to go away or leave someone alone. It's often used in a dismissive or rude way. "Fuss off" is not a recognized idiom and is likely a mishearing or misinterpretation of "buzz off".

What can I say instead of "fuss off" to tell someone to leave?

Instead of "fuss off", you can use alternatives like "buzz off", "go away", or "leave me alone".

How can I use "buzz off" in a sentence?

You can use "buzz off" in a sentence like this: "When he wouldn't stop bothering me, I finally told him to "buzz off"."