flails about
Arms swinging chaotically
To flail about is to move wildly and uncontrollably, thrashing limbs without coordination or purpose.
Someone drowning flails about in the water.
The phrase often describes figurative helplessness—a company flailing about after losing its CEO, a student flailing about for an answer.
He flailed about for something to grab onto.
- panicsLoses control from fear
- loses controlFails to manage oneself
- writhesTwists body in pain
- thrashesBeats severely or defeats
- strugglesDifficult prolonged efforts
in a panic · wild gestures · flutters · wiggles · spasms · tumbles · jerks · falters · squirms · convulses · flounders · fish out of water · stammers · wavers · windmills · muddles through · frets · hesitates
flails aboutglides
Moves smoothly, frictionlessly
flows · poised · coordinated · controlled · steady
flails aboutstands still
Ceases all movement
freezes · stays put · sits still · holds steady · rests