thrash about
Flail around violently
To thrash about is to move violently and erratically, flailing the limbs without coordination or control: The fish thrashed about on the deck.
The phrase suggests desperate, uncontrolled movement—a person thrashing about in bed during a nightmare, or someone drowning thrashing about in the water.
Figuratively, to thrash about can mean to struggle without clear direction: The committee thrashed about for weeks before settling on a plan.
- writheTwist body in pain
- squirmTwist from discomfort
- toss and turnMove restlessly in bed
- flounderStruggle awkwardly, or seafood
- fish out of waterOne in alien circumstances
convulse · struggle · churn · kick · wriggle · twist · twist and shout · shake · spasm · lurch · flail · wrestle · welter · in a panic · jerk · toss · agitate · buck