fum·ble /ˈfʌmbəl/ verb1 (also fumble around) [intransitiveI, transitiveT]HOLD to try to hold, move, or find something with your hands in an awkward way 笨手笨腳地做,胡亂摸找fumble at/in/withShe dressed, her cold fingers fumbling with the buttons. 她穿上衣服,冰冷的手指笨拙地扣着紐扣。
fumble forI fumbled around in my bag for a cigarette. 我在包裏摸香煙。
She reached round to fumble the light on. 她伸手摸索着去開燈。
2 [intransitiveI, transitiveT]TALK TO somebody if you fumble with your words when you are speaking, you have difficulty saying something 支支吾吾地說話,笨嘴笨舌地說fumble forAsked for an explanation, Mike had fumbled for words. 被要求作出解釋時,邁克支支吾吾地找話說。
The second candidate fumbled her lines. 第二個來應試的人念砸了台詞。
—fumble noun [countableC]
—fumbling noun [countableC]