flounder about

- 2 dictionary results

floun⋅der

1 [floun-der]

–verb (used without object)

1.	to struggle with stumbling or plunging movements (usually fol. by about, along, on, through, etc.): He saw the child floundering about in the water.

2.	to struggle clumsily or helplessly: He floundered helplessly on the first day of his new job.

Origin:
1570–80; perh. b. flounce ¹ and founder ²

Related forms:

floun⋅der⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
2. falter, waver, muddle.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

flounder (v.)

1592, perhaps an alteration of founder (q.v.), infl. by Du. flodderen "to flop about," or native verbs in fl- expressing clumsy motion.

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