flounder
/ˈflaundə(r); `flaʊndɚ/ v[I, Ipr, Ip]
1 move or struggle helplessly or clumsily; move with difficulty, as through mud or deep snow 笨拙地移动或挣扎; 艰难地移动（如在泥中或深雪中）
Anna couldn't swim and was left floundering (about/around) in the deep end of the swimming-pool. 安娜不会游泳, 在游泳池的深水区里挣扎著.
2 hesitate or make mistakes when talking or when coming to a decision （说话或做决定时）犹豫或出错误
I wasn't expecting the interviewer to ask about my private life and was left floundering for a while. 我没想到主持面试的人问我私生活的事, 就犹豫了一下.
flounder (on) through a badly prepared speech 由於准备不充分而讲得错误百出.