flail
Collocations
2(verb.)
ADV
desperately, helplessly, wildly
The drowning child flailed desperately in the water before the lifeguard reached him.
about, around
The child flailed around wildly when the doctor tried to give her an injection.
Definitions
noun
A tool used for threshing, consisting of a long handle (handstock) with a shorter stick (swipple or swingle) attached with a short piece of chain, thong or similar material.
When in one night, ere glimpse of morn, His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn That ten day-labourers could not end;
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail, Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail
A weapon which has the (usually spherical) striking part attached to the handle with a flexible joint such as a chain.
verb
To beat using a flail or similar implement.
To wave or swing vigorously
Tangling with Ziv, Cameron caught him with a flailing elbow, causing the Israeli defender to go down a little easily. However, the referee was in no doubt, much to the displeasure of the home fans.
He stopped in his tracks – then, flailing his arms wildly in the air, began to stagger backwards.
To thresh.
To move like a flail.
He was flailing wildly, but didn't land a blow.
Undismayed he continued to flail with the broken half of it, denting many a helmet[.]
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
6When in one night, ere glimpse of morn, His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn That ten day-labourers could not end;
WiktionaryHuge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail, Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail
WiktionaryOn him alone the curse of Cain Fell, like a flail on the garnered grain, And struck him to the earth!
WiktionaryTangling with Ziv, Cameron caught him with a flailing elbow, causing the Israeli defender to go down a little easily. However, the referee was in no doubt, much to the displeasure of the home fans.
WiktionaryHe stopped in his tracks – then, flailing his arms wildly in the air, began to stagger backwards.
WiktionaryHe was flailing wildly, but didn't land a blow.
Wiktionary