flounder /ˈflaʊndə/ TEM8 ( floundering, floundered, flounders )

• 1. 

  V-I If something is floundering, it has many problems and may soon fail completely. 陷入困境

  例：

  What a pity that his career was left to flounder.

  真遗憾，他的事业陷入了困境。

• 2. 

  V-I If you say that someone is floundering, you are criticizing them for not making decisions or for not knowing what to say or do. 不知所措 [表不满]

  例：

  Right now, you've got a president who's floundering, trying to find some way to get his campaign jump-started.

  此时此刻你们的总统不知所措，尽力想办法推动他的竞选。

• 3. 

  V-I If you flounder in water or mud, you move in an uncontrolled way, trying not to sink. (在水或泥浆中) 挣扎

  例：

  Three men were floundering about in the water.

  三名男子正在水中挣扎。

• 4. 

  N a European flatfish, Platichthys flesus having a greyish-brown body covered with prickly scales: family Pleuronectidae: an important food fish 欧洲的一种比目鱼 (Also called fluke)