stumble through

stumble through (something)

1. To make one's way through something or some place with unsteady or faltering steps. I could tell by the way he was stumbling through the bar that he'd had too much to drink. The woman was stumbling through the streets muttering to herself. I stumbled through the hallway half asleep looking for the bathroom.

2. To progress through some performance or recitation with great difficulty or in an awkward, faltering manner. We both forgot our lines, so we just stumbled through the scene as best we could. He stumbled a bit through the middle of his speech, but overall it went pretty well.

See also: stumble, through

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

stumble through something

to get through a sequence of something awkwardly and falteringly. The cast stumbled through the first act and barely finished the second. Mary stumbled through her speech and fled from the stage.

See also: stumble, through

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.