Definition

1. Noun:

   • A state of agitation, flurry, or commotion: "pother" refers to a fuss or bother, often characterized by unnecessary noise, confusion, or excitement.
   • A choking cloud of smoke or dust: (Archaic/Literary) "pother" can mean a thick, suffocating cloud of smoke, dust, or vapor.

2. Verb:

   • To worry or fuss over something: To make a fuss; to be agitated or troubled about something, often unnecessarily.
   • To fluster or harass: To bother or annoy someone, causing them to become flustered.

Examples

• Noun:

  • There was a great pother in the office when the news broke. (There was a lot of commotion in the office when the news broke.)
  • The old meaning is seen in: "A pother of dust rose from the road." (A choking cloud of dust rose from the road.)

• Verb:

  • Don't pother over such minor details. (Don't fuss over such minor details.)
  • The constant questions began to pother the speaker. (The constant questions began to fluster the speaker.)

Advanced Usage

• "To be in a pother": To be in a state of agitation or fluster.

  • She was in a real pother trying to meet the deadline. (She was in a real state of agitation trying to meet the deadline.)

• "To make/raise a pother (about something)": To create a fuss or commotion about something.

  • He made a pother about the changed schedule. (He created a fuss about the changed schedule.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pothered (adj): Agitated, flustered.
  • She looked quite pothered by the unexpected guests. (She looked quite flustered by the unexpected guests.)

Synonyms

• Fuss (n/v): Unnecessary or excessive excitement or activity.
• Flap (n): A state of agitation; a panic.
• Commotion (n): A state of confused and noisy disturbance.
• Fluster (v): To make someone agitated or confused.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions.)

Related Idioms

(This word is not commonly used in specific idioms beyond the phrases listed in 'Advanced Usage'.)

Noun

1. an excited state of agitation
   • he was in a dither
   • there was a terrible flap about the theft

Verb

1. make a fuss; be agitated
2. make upset or troubled