thrash about
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To move your body in a wild, uncontrolled way, like when you're scared, hurt, or upset.
Literal meaning: To beat or whip oneself in multiple directions.
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
To move the body wildly and uncontrollably, usually due to pain, fear, or distress.
"The fish thrashed about desperately after being pulled from the water."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2 neutral
To move restlessly and violently while sleeping or when in an anxious or distressed state.
"He was thrashing about in bed, clearly in the grip of a terrible nightmare."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Also appears as 'thrash around'. Common in descriptions of animals, people in pain, or people having nightmares. The preposition 'about' can often be replaced by 'around' with no change in meaning. More common in British English.
Commonly used with
wildly violently pain nightmare water arms
Forms
Base
thrash about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
thrashes about
he/she/it
Past simple
thrashed about
yesterday
Past participle
thrashed about
have + pp
-ing form
thrashing about
continuous
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