fumble
v.v. to handle something in a clumsy way or drop it by mistake. You can also use it to describe making a big mistake in a social situation.
v. to handle something clumsily or drop an object while attempting to catch or hold it. In figurative contexts, it refers to mismanaging a situation or failing to capitalise on an opportunity.
I always fumble with my keys when I am in a hurry.
The politician began to fumble his words during the difficult interview, losing the audience's trust.
The quarterback's unexpected fumble at the goal line shifted the momentum of the game, allowing the opposing team to mount a late-game comeback.
From late Middle English, from Low German fummeln, fommeln, fammeln (German fummeln), or Dutch fommelen. Or, perhaps from a Scandinavian/North Germanic source; compare related Old Norse fálma, Icelandic fálma, Danish fumle, especially Swedish fumla, famla, with variants: fumbla (“fumble”), fambla (“famble”), related to Swedish fim, fem (Danish fim, Norwegian fim, feima), with a root meaning of “cover, coating of foam or figuratively ditto”, cognate to German Feim (“surf”) and English foam. Possibly has (a more or less unconscious) connection to fathom (via Old Norse faðmr, Swedish famn) in the sense of “embrace”. The ultimate origin for either could perhaps be imitative of fumbling. Or, from Proto-Indo-European pal- (“to shake, swing”), see also Latin palpo (“I pat, touch softly”), and possibly Proto-West Germanic fōlijan (“to feel”).
Blend of fool + crumble.
Often used with the preposition 'with' when describing physical clumsiness.
he fumbled about the ballhe fumbled the ballWhen referring to a specific object dropped or mishandled, the verb is transitive and does not require 'about'.