3

According to a web log article, titled "Weird Words Starting With 'M'", published on Squidoo, the "word" maulifuff means:

maulifuff n. a woman with little energy, a fussy female who does little or nothing

Thus, I'm looking for an English word or expression meaning "a woman who make a lot of fuss but does little or nothing."

Frankly, after some searches and after having verified that Merriam-Webster Dictionary and MacMillan Dictionary don't have that entry (malifuff), I surrendered, and, now, I'm not able to search something that can help me to solve the problem.

Can anyone help me?

Improve this question
2
  • Dilly-dally was the first that came to my mind: to waste time by loitering or delaying - A diddling dilly-dally
    – mplungjan
    Sep 9 '13 at 15:14
  • To describe the act rather than the actor, you could say tempest in a teapot
    – bib
    Sep 9 '13 at 15:22
10

A fussbudget is “One who complains or fusses a great deal, especially about unimportant matters; a fusspot”. (Note, it doesn't denote the sex of the person.)

A specifically-female term, but with strong overtones of stridency, is virago, “Given to undue belligerence or ill manner at the slightest provocation; a shrew, a termagant” or “scolding, domineering, highly opinionated; a fishwife, a nag”. Also see shrew and fishwife (both female) and termagant (of either sex).

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    +1 I actually like fussbudget better than mine. A term I heard a lot from my grandmother's generation.
    – bib
    Sep 9 '13 at 15:50
  • +1 for virago, shrew and termagant. Wonderful words but they seem to have disappeared from contemporary diction. I was thinking of an apt term for someone and you just provided it.
    – user49727
    Sep 9 '13 at 16:28
  • For adjectival forms (rather than nouns) consider high-maintenance and various less-related synonyms like demanding, challenging, exacting, difficult, needy.
    – James Waldby - jwpat7
    Jun 28 '18 at 21:05
5

You could consider drama queen

(informal) a person who tends to react to every situation in an overdramatic or exaggerated manner

While there is a gender reference in the phrase, the term can be applied to either sex.

If having little energy is an essential part of your concept, this probably doesn't apply. Drama queens generally display a great deal of energy, but often little in the way of accomplishment.

Improve this answer
1
  • 4
    Drama queen isn't bad; I was on the verge of suggesting high-maintenance, but I'll just leave it here as a comment. It, too, can apply to either men or women.
    – J.R.
    Sep 9 '13 at 16:11

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy