Verb

(head)

(mumble)

Verb

(intransitive) To speak unintelligibly or inaudibly; to fail to articulate.

Please try not to mumble so I can hear you better.

* Shakespeare

Peace, you mumbling fool.

* Otway

A wrinkled hag, with age grown double, / Picking dry sticks, and mumbling to herself.

To chew something gently with closed lips.

Verb

(head)

(fumble)

Verb

(fumbl)

(intransitive) To idly touch or nervously handle

Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.

He fumbled the key into the lock.

* {{quote-news

, year=2010 , date=December 28 , author=Owen Phillips , title=Sunderland 0 - 2 Blackpool , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Henderson's best strike on goal saw goalkeeper Kingson uncomfortably fumble his measured shot around the post.}}

(intransitive) To grope awkwardly in trying to find something

He fumbled for his keys.

He fumbled his way to the light-switch.

* Fielding

Adams now began to fumble in his pockets.

To blunder uncertainly.

He fumbled through his prepared speech.

To grope about in perplexity; to seek awkwardly.

to fumble for an excuse

* Chesterfield

My understanding flutters and my memory fumbles .

* Wordsworth

Alas! how he fumbles about the domains.

(transitive, intransitive, sports) To drop a ball or a baton etc.

To handle much; to play childishly; to turn over and over.

* Shakespeare

I saw him fumble with the sheets, and play with flowers.