- An old-fashioned, fussy, conservative person who dislikes change, new ideas, or modern trends.
- Often implies being somewhat out of touch, overly cautious, or easily shocked. Usually used with mild criticism or affectionate mockery.
Explanation
Origin
- The origin is uncertain, likely emerging in the early 20th century.
- It's possibly a nonsense reduplication (like higgledy-piggledy), perhaps based on words like fud (dialectal for buttocks, tail) or fuddle (to confuse, intoxicate), but this is speculative.
- The sound itself contributes to the slightly comical, dismissive feel.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Old fogey (Very similar meaning and tone)
- Stick-in-the-mud (Resistant to change, new ideas, or fun)
- Square (Dated 50s/60s slang for someone conventional, not 'cool')
- Dinosaur (Hyperbolic, suggests being completely obsolete or resistant to modern times)
- Luddite (Specifically refers to someone who dislikes or resists new technology)
- Stuffed shirt (Implies pompous formality and conservatism)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- (Not typically expressed vulgarly; the term itself has a quaint feel that doesn't lend itself to vulgar intensification.)
Milder/More Formal:
- Old-fashioned
- Traditional / Traditionalist
- Conservative (Can be political or just general attitude)
- Set in their ways
- Resistant to change
- Fussy / Fastidious (Focuses on being overly particular)
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal. Can sound slightly condescending or disrespectful, especially if used about someone not much older than the speaker, or directly to someone's face (unless teasing gently).
- Generally implies being harmlessly out-of-touch rather than malicious.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Usually understood. The tone (often affectionate or mildly exasperated) helps convey that it's about being old-fashioned/fussy, not seriously malicious or stupid.
Examples
- My dad's a bit of a fuddy-duddy; he still thinks email is too complicated.
- Don't be such a fuddy-duddy! Try this new spicy dish, it's delicious.
- The committee is full of old fuddy-duddies who resist any kind of change.
Dialogue
Lisa: I suggested we use a collaborative online tool for the project notes.
Mark: And what did Mr. Evans say? Let me guess...
Lisa: He said he prefers paper memos! Can you believe it? Such a fuddy-duddy.
Mark: (Chuckles) Not surprised. We'll just have to work around him.
Social Media Examples
- Post: My grandpa calls smartphones 'handheld computers'. He's the sweetest fuddy-duddy. #familylove
- Tweet: Feel like such a fuddy-duddy complaining about loud music, but seriously... turn it down! #gettingold
- Comment: Don't be a fuddy-duddy, embrace the new tech! It makes life easier.
Response Patterns
- Amusement: Haha, yeah, that sounds like him.
- Agreement: Totally stuck in his ways.
- Gentle defense: Well, he's just traditional., Bless him.
- Contrasting with modernity: Unlike us cool kids, right?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After calling someone a fuddy-duddy:
- People might share specific examples of the person's old-fashioned views or fussy habits.
- May lead to gently trying to persuade the person to be more open-minded, or deciding it's not worth the effort.
- Often used affectionately when talking about older relatives.
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes someone's disposition, usually in reaction to their behavior or views.
Intonation
- Often said with mild exasperation, gentle teasing, amusement, or sometimes dismissive criticism.
- Stress is often fairly equal on both parts, or slightly more on the first duddy.
- FUDDY-duddy.
Generation Differences
- More likely to be used by or about older generations (Boomers, Gen X referencing their elders).
- Younger generations understand it but might be more likely to use terms like old-fashioned, out of touch, or more direct descriptions. The term itself feels a bit dated.
Regional Variations
- Used in most English-speaking regions (US, UK, Aus, etc.). Perhaps has a slightly stronger association with British English but is common in the US too.