Fumble vs Fondle - What's the difference?
fumble | fondle |
(intransitive) To idly touch or nervously handle
* {{quote-news
, year=2010
, date=December 28
, author=Owen Phillips
, title=Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool
, work=BBC
(intransitive) To grope awkwardly in trying to find something
* Fielding
To blunder uncertainly.
To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly.
* Chesterfield
* Wordsworth
(transitive, intransitive, sports) To drop a ball or a baton etc.
To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over.
* Shakespeare
To touch or stroke lovingly.
To grasp.
As verbs the difference between fumble and fondle
is that fumble is to idly touch or nervously handle while fondle is to touch or stroke lovingly.As a noun fumble
is a ball etc. that has been dropped.fumble
English
Verb
(fumbl)- Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.
- He fumbled the key into the lock.
citation, page= , passage=Henderson's best strike on goal saw goalkeeper Kingson uncomfortably fumble his measured shot around the post.}}
- He fumbled for his keys.
- He fumbled his way to the light-switch.
- Adams now began to fumble in his pockets.
- He fumbled through his prepared speech.
- to fumble for an excuse
- My understanding flutters and my memory fumbles .
- Alas! how he fumbles about the domains.
- I saw him fumble with the sheets, and play with flowers.
fondle
English
Verb
- Mothers fondle their babies.
- The lovers fondled each other.