Flounder

[vada2022]

I'd like to know what "flounder" means in this sentence.
Thanks in advance.

The children themselves, one and all, exult in the wet mess and flounder of everything, and make me feel that one day they will rule us well.

[geevo41]

Vada, I think in that sentence the best synonym is 'muddle'

[jno]

to flounder around is to stumble uncertainly, unable to get where you want to be. It's usually a verb; I don't think I've seen it as a noun (as it is in your sentence) but it will have the same sort of meaning.

[Tilly2]

Chaos

[Tilly2]

Some literary licence going on in that passage.

[Mamyalynne]

Use of the word doesn't make the sentence read well to me , I'd have gone for 'mayhem'.

[tiggerblue10]

A flounder is also a peculiar looking fish. Its face is a bit muddled.

[Needanswers7777]

Staggering clumsily in the mud

[vada2022]

Thank you so much!

[bobbinwales]

Who wrote it vada??Seems like pretentious nonsence to me

[elliemay1]

It's a sentence from Thinking Again by Jan Morris

[elliemay1]

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=TWbBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA9&;lpg=PA9&dq=thinking+again+by+jan+morris+%2B+%27%27The+children+themselves,+one+and+all,+exult+in+the+wet+mess+and+flounder+of+everything,+and+make+me+feel+that+one+day+they+will+rule+us+well.%27%27&source=bl&ots=NdghPdl4kv&sig=ACfU3U3j1S4IhBPa7RzSCtaejk_RzvEmWw&hl=en&sa=X&;ved=2ahUKEwjp9oHf__nyAhVKQkEAHSNVBRgQ6AF6BAgDEAM