Flailing
(pronounced flayl-ing) verb
Definition
1. to beat, swing, or strike with or as if with a flail; to wave or swing wildly or vigorously.
2. to move about clumsily and uselessly; thrash about.
Main Example
- Just a few years ago, Airbus Industries was in the ascendant and kicking Boeing in the pants. Today, the fortunes of these two competitors are reversed, with Boeing having the wind at its back and Airbus Industries, which has lately suffered one setback after another and is laying off 10,000 employees, now flailing.
Workplace Examples
- It's been over a month since we entered this parts-shortage crisis because of the strike in our supplier's factory, and the purchasing department is just flailing around! In fact, they are still doing "research" on other vendors.
- No, I don't think the manufacturing department will ever change. At least, not while Jerry is in charge. When someone suggests to Jerry that he has missed his goals, he flails out at other departments, blaming them for the problem instead of examining his own operations.
Other Examples
- somebody saying: "I can't understand why management awarded that special assignment to Tricia. She just doesn't have the requisite expertise or knowledge! I expect they'll soon realize their error, once they see her flail around in her ignorance."
- on entering a theater, you flailing your arms to get the attention of somebody seated far away; a drowning person's arms flailing helplessly
- an incompetent management flailing about, desperately trying to get a grip on the issues; Zimbabwe's flailing economy
- Detroit's flailing automakers struggling for the upper hand in their slugfest with Toyota and other Asian manufacturers
