flail about

flail about (third-person singular simple present flails about, present participle flailing about, simple past and past participle flailed about)

1. (intransitive) To wave one's arms (or upper body) about violently, rather like a flail.
   • 1969, Theodore Millon, Modern Psychopathology: A Biosocial Approach to Maladaptive Learning and Functioning:

     Barry continued to shout obscenities and to flail about in a strait jacket, finally succumbing to the effects of intravenously administered tranquilizers.

2. (intransitive, figurative) To make efforts that are strenuous but disorganized and ineffectual.