flail about

flail about
To wave ones arms (or upper body) about violently, rather like a flail.

Barry continued to shout obscenities and to flail about in a strait jacket, finally succumbing to the effects of intravenously administered tranquilizers.


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  • flail — [flāl] n. [ME fleil < OFr flaiel & OE * flegel, both < L flagellum, a whip, scourge: see FLAGELLATE] a farm tool consisting of a free swinging stick tied to the end of a long handle, used to thresh grain vt., vi. 1. to thresh with a flail 2 …   English World dictionary

  • flail — ► NOUN ▪ a tool or machine with a swinging action, used for threshing. ► VERB 1) swing wildly. 2) (flail around/about) flounder; struggle. ORIGIN Latin flagellum little whip …   English terms dictionary

  • Flail — For other uses, see flail (disambiguation). An example of a grain flail A flail is an agricultural tool used for threshing to separate grains from their husks. It is usually made from two or more large sticks attached by a short chain; one stick… …   Wikipedia

  • Flail (weapon) — This article is about the weapon. For other uses, see Flail (disambiguation). A typical European military flail, derived from the agricultural tool The flail is a hand weapon derived from the agricultural tool. The handle is attached to the… …   Wikipedia

  • flail — [[t]fle͟ɪl[/t]] flails, flailing, flailed 1) V ERG If your arms or legs flail or if you flail them about, they wave about in an energetic but uncontrolled way. His arms were flailing in all directions... [V n] He gave a choked cry, flailed his… …   English dictionary

  • flail — flail1 [fleıl] v 1.) [I and T] to wave your arms or legs in an uncontrolled way ▪ He flailed wildly as she tried to hold him down. flail around/about ▪ James flailed about in the shallow water. 2.) [T] to beat someone or something violently,… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • flail — /flayl/, n. 1. an instrument for threshing grain, consisting of a staff or handle to one end of which is attached a freely swinging stick or bar. 2. a similar instrument used as a weapon of war. v.t., v.i. 3. to beat or swing with or as if with a …   Universalium

  • flail — I UK [fleɪl] / US verb Word forms flail : present tense I/you/we/they flail he/she/it flails present participle flailing past tense flailed past participle flailed 1) [intransitive/transitive] to move your arms and legs about in an uncontrolled… …   English dictionary

  • flail — flail1 [ fleıl ] verb 1. ) intransitive or transitive to move your arms and legs about in an uncontrolled way 2. ) transitive to hit someone many times with something such as a stick 3. ) intransitive or transitive to hit grain with a special… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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