(~s, scrabbling, ~d)
1.
If you ~ for something, especially something that you cannot see, you move your hands or your feet about quickly and hurriedly in order to find it.
He grabbed his jacket and ~d in his desk drawer for some loose change...
I hung there, scrabbling with my feet to find a foothold.
VERB: V for n, V to-inf
•
Scrabble around or ~ about means the same as ~ .
Alberg ~d around for pen and paper...
Gleb ~d about in the hay, pulled out a book and opened it.
PHRASAL VERB: V P for n, V P
2.
If you say that someone is scrabbling to do something, you mean that they are having difficulty because they are in too much of a hurry, or because the task is almost impossible.
The banks are now desperately scrabbling to recover their costs...
The opportunity had gone. His mind ~d for alternatives.
VERB: V to-inf, V for n
•
Scrabble around means the same as ~ .
You get a six-month contract, and then you have to ~ around for the next job.
PHRASAL VERB: V P for n, also V P to-inf