fum·ble /ˈfʌmbəl/ verb 1 (also fumble around) [intransitiveI, transitiveT]HOLD to try to hold, move, or find something with your hands in an awkward way 笨手笨脚地做,胡乱摸找fumble at/in/with She dressed, her cold fingers fumbling with the buttons. 她穿上衣服,冰冷的手指笨拙地扣着纽扣。
fumble for I fumbled around in my bag for a cigarette. 我在包里摸香烟。
She reached round to fumble the light on. 她伸手摸索着去开灯。
2 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]TALK TO somebody if you fumble with your words when you are speaking, you have difficulty saying something 支支吾吾地说话,笨嘴笨舌地说fumble for Asked for an explanation, Mike had fumbled for words. 被要求作出解释时,迈克支支吾吾地找话说。
The second candidate fumbled her lines. 第二个来应试的人念砸了台词。
—fumble noun [countableC]
—fumbling noun [countableC]