flail around

flail around

To move one's body, often the limbs, in an erratic or clumsy way The last time I tried ice skating, I spent most of the time flailing around and trying desperately not to fall.
See also: around, flail
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • a home from home
  • (it's) time to move along
  • any time means no time
  • (it's) time to jet off (to some place)
  • be joined at the hip
  • against time
  • against the clock
  • about time too
  • any time
  • (it's) time to run
References in periodicals archive
She wrote: "The camera is a little shaky as you flail around trying to keep you head above water, but it's all worth it as you see your body dip below the surface and your limp limbs gently move with the waves.
The Sims 4 'first-person mode' lets you experience SEX from your Sim's perspective; The new mode allows you to experience various tasks in first person - including 'WooHoo'
You mouth 'nooooooo!' and your arms flail around wildly like Sandra Bullock in Gravity.
First things first
Although the book has some of the makings of a pacy thriller, it's let down by a plot that doesn't so much twist and turn as flail around in blind panic.
book club
All I had to do was turn up, hug the married couple, neck a few drinks, chat up a nice-looking lad and flail around on the dance floor until someone put me in a taxi for my own safety.
The perfect way to get hitched; DIARY OF A SINGLE MUM
While Villa flail around in a mess of the absent owner's making, their rivals could steal a march, leaving the club unprepared at such a crucial crossroads.
The alarming questions raised by shock Villa resignations... David Bernstein and Mervyn King's decisions to quit the new board is another damning indictment of the mess Randy Lerner has made of running the club. Football editor Mat Kendrick wonders 'what next?' in the ongoing soap opera
They "just sort of flail around and do pitifully," Goldman says.
Snakes tutor robot on dune climbing: sidewinders reveal strategy for traversing a sandy slope
in return i make her put on my favourite jams from her new record and flail around wildly/smile like a crazy person.
Taylor Swift a 'Proud Mum' To Lorde After Hearing 'Yellow Flicker Beat' [VIDEOS]
Every time they hit the ground the women don't flail around dramatically like they are auditioning for a death scene in Shakespeare.
Annie Brown
The result has been to send the bailedout Lloyds plummeting to a pounds 4 billion interim loss and the loss of 8,000 jobs as directors flail around to get themselves out of a hole that they dug.
Lloyds bosses flailing around; city view
Panels doors left open and not tied down will flail around in high wind and can crack the door's ribbing.
Blowin' in the wind
Torn is too disciplined a performer to flail around the stage in extremis, but there is something unnerving about the anxious hand gestures and jerky head movements that accompany Plath's arias of loathing and longing for the husband who betrayed her with a friend.
Edge
Pop it in, flail around your room, and purge your psyche of all the frustrations that come with being a teen.
Rock your summer. (Top 10 Music)
Rockets then shoot the seat upwards, with a leg restraint system activating to ensure the pilot cannot flail around and injure themselves.
Local factory has the jump on life-saving; Around 50 more people could soon be hard at work helping to save countless lives. ANDREW MELVIN looks at what they'll be doing
Too many students arrive at college not knowing what they do well and flail around until they find their niche.
How to teach your child the value of work without making it a chore
It looks as if Cameron's dance moves are modelled on his approach to leading the opposition - just flail around aimlessly and hope for the best.
DAVE'S A RIGHT RAVER