flounder

[ˈflaʊndər]

verb/nounpl: flounders (noun)

debater-se; linguado

1. (verb) to struggle or thrash about in water or mud; to move clumsily

The fish was floundering in the shallow water.

O peixe debatia-se na água rasa.

2. (verb) to be in confusion or difficulty; to struggle mentally or emotionally

He was floundering trying to answer the difficult question.

Ele estava se debatendo tentando responder a pergunta difícil.

3. (noun) a type of flatfish found in marine and freshwater environments

We caught three flounders at the beach.

Pegamos três linguados na praia.

NYC Slang

struggle; be in the weeds

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

debater-se; linguado

Standard usage for both the verb and fish noun

São Paulo

se debater; linguado

Common in commercial fishing contexts

Rio de Janeiro

se debater; linguado

Regional fishing communities use frequently

Portugal

debater-se; solha; pregado

Different flatfish species terminology; solha for sole, pregado for turbot

flounder around - andar à deriva, estar perdido

in deep water and floundering - em apuros, em dificuldades

left to flounder - deixado à sua própria sorte

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