the flailing, erratically

The adrenaline in the room surged. “If there is a plane that is behaving erratically in New York City, everyone moves,” the official said.

The Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times all lead on news that government officials are poised to rescue Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by placing the flailing mortgage-finance giants under federal control. The plan would see the troubled companies lose their chief executives, but would allow them to continue functioning with the government guaranteeing their debts.

Definition

flail (WAVE) Show phonetics
verb [I or T] (ALSO flail about/around)
(especially of arms and legs) to move energetically in an uncontrolled way:
A wasp came towards us and Howard started flailing his arms around.
She ran from the house in a terrible rage, her arms flailing in the air.

Dictionary:

flail

(flāl)

n.

A manual threshing device consisting of a long wooden handle or staff and a shorter, free-swinging stick attached to its end.

v., flailed, flail·ing, flails. v.tr.

1. To beat or strike with or as if with a flail: flailed our horses with the reins.
2. To wave or swing vigorously; thrash: flailed my arms to get their attention.
3. To thresh using a flail.

v.intr.

1. To move vigorously or erratically; thrash about: arms flailing helplessly in the water.
2. To strike or lash out violently: boxers flailing at each other in the ring.
3. To thresh grain.

[Middle English, from Old English flegil and from Old French flaiel, both from Late Latin flagellum, threshing tool, from Latin flagrum, whip.]

erratic

adj.

1. Having no fixed or regular course; wandering.
2. Lacking consistency, regularity, or uniformity: an erratic heartbeat.
3. Deviating from the customary course in conduct or opinion; eccentric: erratic behavior.

[Middle English erratik, from Old French erratique, from Latin errāticus, from errāre, to wander.]

erratically er·rat'i·cal·ly adv.
erraticism er·rat'i·cism (-ĭ-sĭz'əm) n.

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erratic Hide phonetics
adjective
irregular, uncertain or without organization in movement or behaviour:
He drove in an erratic course down the road.
She can be very erratic, one day she is friendly and the next she'll hardly speak to you.

erratically Hide phonetics
adverb
In her study, books were arranged erratically on chairs, tables and shelves.
The machine is working erratically - there must be a loose connection.

flail

━━ n., v. 殻竿(からざお)（で打つ）; （腕を）振回す.