fumble

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Contents

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Origin uncertain; perhaps from a Scandinavian source. Compare Old Norse falma, Swedish fumla, Danish fumle, German fummeln.

Pronunciation[edit]

Verb[edit]

fumble (third-person singular simple present fumbles, present participle fumbling, simple past and past participle fumbled)

  1. (transitive, intransitive) To idly touch or nervously handle
    Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie
    • He fumbled the key into the lock
    • 2010 December 28, Owen Phillips, “Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool”, BBC:
      Henderson's best strike on goal saw goalkeeper Kingson uncomfortably fumble his measured shot around the post.
  2. (transitive, intransitive) To grope awkwardly in trying to find something
    He fumbled for his keys
    He fumbled his way to the light-switch
  3. (intransitive) To blunder uncertainly
    He fumbled through his prepared speech
  4. (transitive, intransitive, sports) To drop a ball or a baton etc.

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

fumble (plural fumbles)

  1. (sports) A ball etc. that has been dropped

Translations[edit]