flounder

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Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Noun 1.2.1 Translations 1.3 Verb 1.3.1 Quotations 1.4 Usage notes

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

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  Rhymes: -aʊndə(r)

[edit] Noun

flounder (plural flounder)

1. (countable) Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to flounder (third-person singular simple present flounders, present participle floundering, simple past and past participle floundered)

1. (intransitive) To flop around as a fish out of water.
2. (intransitive) To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.

   Robert yanked Connie's leg vigorously, causing her to flounder and eventually fall.

3. (intransitive) To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.

   He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well.

[edit] Quotations

to act clumsily

• 1996, Janette Turner Hospital, Oyster, Virago Press, paperback edition, page 136

  He is assessing directions, but he is not lost, not floundering.

[edit] Usage notes

Frequently confused with the verb founder. The difference is one of severity; floundering (struggling to maintain a position) comes before foundering, losing it completely by falling, sinking or failing.