Pother / noun / poth·​er

We use the word "pother" in English as a noun to describe "a confused or fidgety flurry of activity." Similar to a "hullabaloo," a 'pother' is an event that causes an upset along with a flurry of hurried activity as onlookers, and interested parties try to figure out the cause of the situation. We also use the word "pother" as a noun to describe "mental turmoil" or "clouds of dust and smoke."

In a Sentence

The woman was in a pother when she discovered she couldn't find her car keys.

Don't get yourself all into a pother, take your time and you'll find your keys.

The residents of the small town were in a pother about the new stop light going up downtown.

Etymology

While the exact origin of pother is still unknown, we first see the word "pother" used as a noun in the late 15th century around 1591. They used pother to describe being in a frenzy, tizzy, or state of mental turmoil. Later in the following century, around 1692, the definition of pother changed slightly, and we began using it as a verb to describe a mental state of being. We still use "pother" as both a noun and verb in English today.

Synonym

Tizzy, Fret

Antonym

Agreement, Calm