Definition of the word flail

Pronunciation of vocabulary flail

flailverb

vẫy

/fleɪl//fleɪl/

Origin of the word flail

The word "flail" has a fascinating origin. It comes from the Old English word "fleogan," which means "to beat or thrash about" or "to slash." This term was likely inspired by the motion of a tool used for threshing grain, such as a flail, which consists of a long handle and a heavy iron head. The iron head was used to beat the grain to separate it from the chaff. Over time, the word "flail" evolved to encompass a broader range of meanings, including "to beat or whip," "to strike repeatedly," and "to endeavor in a futile or hopeless way." In modern English, you might use "flail" to describe someone who is wildly gesticulating, or to describe a desperate or ineffectual attempt to accomplish something. Despite its varied uses, the word "flail" still retains a strong connection to its origins in agriculture and manual labor.

Vocabulary summary flail

typenoun

meaningfork

meaningflail

typetransitive verb

meaningbeat (rice...) with a flail

meaningwhip

Example of vocabulary flailnamespace

meaning

to move around without control; to move your arms and legs around without control

di chuyển xung quanh mà không kiểm soát; để di chuyển cánh tay và chân của bạn xung quanh mà không kiểm soát

  • The boys flailed around on the floor.

    Các chàng trai vùng vẫy trên sàn nhà.

  • He was running along, his arms flailing wildly.

    Anh ta đang chạy dọc theo, cánh tay khua khoắng dữ dội.

  • The soldier waved his arms wildly as he attempted to signal for help, but all he could do was flail in the air.

    Người lính vung tay điên cuồng khi cố gắng ra hiệu cầu cứu, nhưng tất cả những gì anh ta có thể làm là vung tay trong không khí.

  • The rodeo performer's lasso flew through the air as she attempted to rope the bull, but she ended up flailing the lasso around her body instead.

    Chiếc thòng lọng của người biểu diễn rodeo bay trong không trung khi cô cố gắng dùng dây thừng trói con bò, nhưng cuối cùng cô lại quơ chiếc thòng lọng quanh người mình.

  • In the midst of the chaos, the anxious passenger flailed his arms and kicked his legs, causing the already crowded airplane to become even more cramped.

    Trong lúc hỗn loạn, hành khách lo lắng vung tay và đá chân, khiến cho chiếc máy bay vốn đã đông đúc lại càng trở nên chật chội hơn.

meaning

to hit somebody/something very hard, especially with a stick

đánh ai/cái gì rất mạnh, đặc biệt là bằng gậy

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary flail

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