fumble

[US]/ˈfʌmbl/
[UK]/ˈfʌmbl/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

vt. grope; handle clumsily
vi. grope; act clumsily
n. groping; clumsy handling

Phrases & Collocations

make a fumble

fumble for words

Example Sentences

fumble with a necktie.

fumble for a key.

fumble through a speech.

she fumbled with the lock.

He fumbled the door open.

The cricketer fumbled the catch.

Benjamin fumbled for the light switch.

she fumbled a cigarette from her bag.

fumbled my chance for a promotion;

His awkwardness made him fumble with the key.

her hands fumbled with the waistband of his trousers.

he fumbled about in the dark but could not find her.

asked for explanations, Michael had fumbled for words.

He fumbled about in his pockets for the ticket.

The baseball hitter fumbled his attempt to catch it.

She fumbled about in her handbag for her passport.

just one fumble during a tyre change could separate the winners from the losers.

Jerry was already unhappy because he fumbled the ball,but his teammates kept rubbing it in.

In March he goes on a survival course and learns about the “umbles”: as hypothermia sets in you mumble, fumble, grumble, stumble, then finally tumble.

Real-world Examples

I smile and pretend to fumble for change?

Source: 2 Broke Girls Season 1

I fumbled for so long, she started to laugh.

Source: Modern Family Season 6

Harry began to fumble with the knot of rope tying Buckbeak to the fence.

Source: 3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Jerry Meeseeks are not born into this world fumbling for meaning, Jerry!

Source: Rick and Morty Season 1 (Bilingual)

He fumbled, and down it rolled.

Source: American Elementary School English 5

Sam fumbled for a penny. " Are you a novice" ?

Source: A Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows (Bilingual Edition)

He fumbled behind him for the catch on the door.

Source: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

As Bathilda fumbled with logs for the fire, he muttered " Tergeo" .

Source: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I took out my wallet and nervously fumbled for the pictures of my family.

Source: Beautiful yet sorrowful memories.

Harry stuck his webbed hand quickly inside his robes and fumbled for his wand.

Source: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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