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   fumble

   /ˈfʌmbl/

   verb

   • 1. do or handle something clumsily: "she fumbled with the lock" Similar gropefeel aboutsearch blindlyscrabble aroundmuddle aroundfishdelvecast about forcast round forcast around forarchaic:grabble for
   • ▪ move clumsily in various directions using the hands to find one's way: "he fumbled about in the dark but could not find her" Similar stumbleblunderflounderlumberbumblestaggertotterlurchmove clumsilymove awkwardlyfeel one's waygrope one's way
   • ▪ use the hands clumsily to move (something) as specified: "she fumbled a cigarette from her bag"
   • ▪ (in ball games) fail to catch or field (the ball) cleanly: "have you ever seen him fumble a ball?" Similar fail to catchmissdropmishandlehandle awkwardlymisfield
   • ▪ express oneself or deal with something clumsily or nervously: "Michael had fumbled for words" Similar botchbunglemismanagemishandlespoilblundermake a mistakeinformal:make a mess ofmake a hash offluffmuffscrew upfoul upblowlouse upmake a pig's ear ofmake a muck ofcock upflub

   noun

   • 1. an act of doing or handling something clumsily: "just one fumble during a tyre change could separate the winners from the losers"
   • ▪ an act of fondling someone for sexual pleasure: "a quick fumble in a downtown tavern" Similar fondlegropecaresshugembracecuddleinformal:feel-up
   • ▪ (in ball games) an act of failing to catch or field the ball cleanly: "he recovered a fumble after a bad exchange" Similar slipmissdropmishandlingmisfieldingmistakeerrorgaffefaultbotchinformal:slip-upboo-boohowlerfoul-upfailcock-upboobclanger
   • ▪ an act of managing or dealing with something clumsily: "we are not talking about subtle errors of judgement, but major fumbles"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Low German fommeln or Dutch fommelen.

   Derivatives

   • 1. fumbler noun

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • F

     4

   • U

     1

   • M

     3

   • B

     3

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

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