flailing about
Limbs going everywhere
Flailing about is moving one's limbs in an uncontrolled, awkward manner—thrashing without coordination or purpose.
Someone drowning flails about in the water.
The phrase extends to any disorganized struggle: The company has been flailing about since the CEO resigned.
It suggests effort without direction, motion without progress.
- panickingExperiencing acute terror
- thrashingDecisive, lopsided defeat
- writhingTwisting the body convulsively
- losing controlAuthority or composure failing
- mismanagingHandling responsibilities poorly
in a panic · struggling · fumbling · bungling · waving · wild gestures · floundering · treading water · grasping at straws · muddling · dithering · flustering · staggering · windmilling · grappling · jerking · twitching · spasming
flailing aboutgraceful movement
Smooth, elegant locomotion
gliding · flowing · poised · fluid motion · coordinated
flailing aboutstanding still
Absence of motion
stillness · composure · holding still · poise · self-possession
flailing aboutstanding still
Absence of motion
motionless · still · stationary · immobile · frozen