flailverb [ I or T ]
uk/fleɪl/us/fleɪl/also flail about/around(especially of arms and legs) to move energetically in an uncontrolled way:
A wasp came towards us and Howard started flailing his arms around.
She ran from the house in a terrible rage, her arms flailing in the air.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making short, sudden movements
- aquiver
- convulse
- convulsion
- convulsive
- cringe
- flick
- jig
- jiggle
- jolt
- judder
- leap
- palpitate
- pull away
- quiver
- shivery
- shrink
- tremulous
- whip
- worry at sth
- wriggle
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flailnoun [ C ]
uk/fleɪl/us/fleɪl/a tool consisting of a rod that hangs from a long handle, used especially in the past for threshing grain
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Tools
- adze
- Allen key
- anvil
- auger
- awl
- axe
- excavator
- grindstone
- guillotine
- hacksaw
- hatchet
- hot-air gun
- mallet
- plunger
- sander
- sandpaper
- scissor
- scissors
- scraper
- vane
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