Veronica, who grew up in Liverpool, England, has noticed that kerfuffle is a favorite term among American journalists talking about political situations, though it’s much more common across the pond. This word for a disturbance or a bother comes from Scotland, but it’s been picked up in the United States, where it’s often pronounced as kerfluffle. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Kerfuffle, Kerfluffle”
Hello, you have A Way with Words.
Hello.
Hi, who’s this?
This is Veronica Hennessy, Bethlehem, New Hampshire.
Hi, Veronica. Welcome to the show.
Thank you.
What can we help you with?
Well, I’m from England, and I heard this word used by a couple of people on television, and I’ve never heard it here before, and the word is kerfuffle.
Kerfuffle.
K-E-R-F-U-S-L-E.
And David Brooks from the New York Times on PBS, Chuck Todd on NBC, and a woman reporter, they used it. And it was really around, you know, this time of the election and all. And when I used to hear it at home, you know, in England, it used to be my mother saying, what’s all the kerfuffle? And what she meant was the fuss or the confusion or something. And whoever was, you know, the three people I mentioned, they were pretty much using it that way as well. You’re like, oh, all the carry on about the election and all. But I was really fascinated because I’d never heard it here before.
Yeah, it’s become much more popular since the 1980s. But you’re right, it’s used primarily in Britain. Where did you live in Britain?
I was born and raised in Liverpool.
Mm—
So you’re surprised to be hearing it here, Americans adopting this term.
Right, yes.
Well, I would say that here in this country, if you’re using the word kerfuffle, you probably are exposed to more kinds of media and read more widely than most people because it’s not all that common and it’s a little bit self-conscious. And those people who do use it do tend to be journalists because they’re more likely to be consuming British media as they contemplate world affairs.
Right.
But one interesting thing that happens often in the United States is people will call it kerfluffle. Like it’s F-L-U-F-F in the middle, which is not one of the usual spellings. And there are many usual spellings.
Right.
And I truly, I think it’s of Scottish origin.
You’re absolutely right.
Yes.
In Scotland, it’s C-U-R-F-U-F-F-E-L. And it just means to sort of, you know, mess up something.
-huh.
Yeah, well, that’s it. That’s what my mother would come home and say. What’s all the kerfuffle?
Thanks, Veronica.
Oh, you’re very welcome. It’s a pleasure. And I do enjoy the program.
Thank you so much.
You too.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
You know, one reason I think that kerfuffle has really taken off in the last few years is because of one of my favorite series ever, Little Britain. You’ve watched this. Little Britain is a comedy sketch series with David Walliams and Matt Lucas. And there’s one sketch where these guys are supposedly stranded on a desert island. And you know how people on a desert island will spell out help or SOS so that somebody flying over can see them? Well, poor David Walliam’s character is working so hard. And you finally see that what he spelled out on the beach is, help, we’re in a bit of a kerfuffle. Which doesn’t really work.
No.
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