no obj., with adverbial
1- use the hands clumsily while doing or handling something笨手笨脚地做事（或拿东西）：
she fumbled with the lock.
她笨手笨脚地开锁。
1.1
- (of the hands) do or handle something clumsily（手）笨拙地做（或摆弄）：
her hands fumbled with the waistband of his trousers.
她双手笨拙地在系裤带。
1.2
fumble about/around
move clumsily in various directions using the hands to find one's way摸索着走, 摸索而行：he fumbled about in the dark but could not find her.
他在黑暗中四处摸索, 但却找不到她。
1.3
- with obj. and adverbial use the hands clumsily to move (something) as specified用手笨拙地移动（某物）：
she fumbled a cigarette from her bag.
她好不容易从包里摸出一支烟。
1.4
- with obj.(in ball games) fail to catch or field (the ball, a pass, a shot, etc.) cleanly（球类运动用语）漏（球）, 漏接（球）, 失（球）。
1.5
- express oneself or deal with something clumsily or nervously笨嘴拙舌（或结结巴巴）地说; 笨拙（或紧张地）处理：
asked for explanations, Michael had fumbled for words.
人家要求他给个说法时, 迈克尔却结结巴巴地说不明白。
usu. in sing.
1- an act of using the hands clumsily while doing or handling something笨拙的操作, 动作的失当, 失手：
just one fumble during a tyre change could separate the winners from the losers.
调换轮胎时只要一次操作不当就可能分出胜负。
1.1
- informal an act of fondling someone for sexual pleasure〈非正式〉（为达到性快乐而进行的）抚弄。
1.2
- (in ball games) an act of failing to catch or field the ball cleanly（球类运动用语）漏球, 漏接球, 失球。
1.3
- an act of managing or dealing with something clumsily笨拙的处理：
we are not talking about subtle errors of judgement, but major fumbles.
我们不是在讲判断上的微小错误, 而是大错。
派生词
fumbler
nounfumblingly
adverb词源
late Middle English: from Low German fommeln or Dutch fommelen.