trip over
Catch your foot
To trip over something is to catch your foot on it and stumble or fall: I tripped over the dog in the dark.
The phrase implies an obstacle—you trip over a cable, a curb, or your own feet.
Figuratively, to trip over your words is to speak haltingly or make verbal mistakes: He kept tripping over the pronunciation.
Error in action or judgment
- falterLose momentum or steadiness
- tumbleUncontrolled rolling descent
- slipMinor error or misstep
- lurchAbrupt unsteady movement
topple · teeter · wobble · stagger · lose balance · pitch forward · sprawl · fall
Raised road margin
Lacking grace or ease
- uncoordinatedLacking physical grace
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- klutzyLacking physical coordination
- butterfingersClumsy dropper of things
oafish · lumbering · gawky · inelegant · ham-handed · clodhopping · graceless · bumbling
Not done on purpose
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- inadvertentDone without intention
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- mishapMinor unfortunate occurrence
incident · mistake · careless · inattentive · distracted · caught off guard
misstep
Error in action or judgment
lurch · topple · teeter · wobble · stagger · lose balance · pitch forward · sprawl · fall · stumble upon
curb
Raised road margin
pothole · crack · cord · cable · rug · doormat · shoe · toy · pet · bag
awkward
Lacking grace or ease
- uncoordinatedLacking physical grace
- ungainlyLacking ease of movement
- klutzyLacking physical coordination
butterfingers · oafish · lumbering · gawky · inelegant · ham-handed · clodhopping · graceless · bumbling · fumbling
unintentional
Not done on purpose
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- inadvertentDone without intention
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
mishap · incident · mistake · careless · inattentive · distracted · caught off guard
- clumsinessclumsiness, clumsy, awkwardness, fumble, stumble
- discoveryfind, finding, discovery, discover, finding out