flail about

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English

Verb

flail about (third-person singular simple present flails about, present participle flailing about, simple past and past participle flailed about)

  1. (intransitive) To wave one's arms (or upper body) about violently, rather like a flail.
    • 1969, Theodore Millon, Modern Psychopathology: A Biosocial Approach to Maladaptive Learning and Functioning:
      Barry continued to shout obscenities and to flail about in a strait jacket, finally succumbing to the effects of intravenously administered tranquilizers.
  2. (intransitive, figurative) To make efforts that are strenuous but disorganized and ineffectual.