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bumble around

[/ˈbʌmbəl əˈraʊnd/]
verb
andar aos tropeços; mexer-se desajeitadamente
1. To move or act in a clumsy, confused, or inefficient manner; to wander aimlessly while bumping into things or making mistakes
He bumbled around the kitchen looking for a coffee mug.
Ele andava aos tropeços pela cozinha procurando uma caneca de café.
2. To handle a task poorly or inefficiently; to bungle about
The new employee bumbled around trying to figure out the computer system.
O novo funcionário mexia-se desajeitadamente tentando entender o sistema de computador.
NYC Slang
bumble around; mess around inefficiently
Synonyms
fumble aroundmuddle throughstumble aboutblunder aboutflounder around
Antonyms
move efficientlywork smoothlyproceed confidentlynavigate skillfully

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
andar aos tropeços; mexer-se desajeitadamente
Most common usage
Rio de Janeiro
se virar desajeitadamente
Informal, colloquial
São Paulo
andar perdido; se mexer sem jeito
Common urban usage
Portugal
andar às cegas; mexer-se desajeitadamente
Slightly more formal than Brazilian usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

muddle through
feel one's way
grope around in the dark
wing it
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