Stumbling up
/ˈstʌmbəlɪŋ ʌp/
verb phraseB1present participle + particle
Definition
"Stumbling up" describes the action of going up (like stairs or a hill) while losing balance or moving awkwardly. It shows that the movement is not smooth or easy, but full of small falls or trips.
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See It in Action
Moving upward in a clumsy or unsteady way
- •He was stumbling up the stairs after a long day at work.
- •The child was stumbling up the hill because the ground was slippery.
- •She kept stumbling up the ladder, trying to reach the top.
Figurative use: progressing with difficulty or uncertainty
- •The new employee was stumbling up the career ladder but learning fast.
- •Our team is stumbling up the project steps, making mistakes but moving forward.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "stumbling up" like "walking up," but with mistakes or small falls while moving higher
- ✓Picture someone climbing stairs but tripping on each step, trying hard not to fall
- ✓It's the feeling when you are tired or unsure, and your steps are not steady going upward
- ✓Sounds like "STUM-bling UP" → imagine someone bumping or catching their foot while moving up a hill
- ✓Think of a tired hiker climbing a steep mountain, sometimes losing balance but still moving upward
- ✓NOT like "walking up" (smooth and steady), "stumbling up" is unsteady and awkward
- ✓NOT like "falling down" (going lower), "stumbling up" means going higher but with difficulty
Try Other Words
- •Climbing awkwardly: moving up in a clumsy way (Use when describing rough or difficult upward movement)
- •Ascending unsteadily: going up without balance (Use in more formal or descriptive contexts)
- •Staggering up: moving up while almost losing balance (Use when the movement is very unsteady or weak)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "stumble" (to trip or lose balance) + "up" (direction upwards)
- •Etymology: "stumble" comes from Old English "stumbian," meaning to fall or trip; "up" is a basic English preposition indicating direction
- •Historical development: "Stumble" has long meant to trip or lose balance; combined with "up" to specify direction of movement
- •Modern usage: Used to describe physical movement upward that is not smooth, and sometimes figurative progress with difficulty
Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you were stumbling up something physically or in your life? How did it feel?
•Why do you think people use "stumbling up" instead of just "going up" in some situations?
Fill in the blanks
1.He was stumbling up the stairs because he was ___ and ___.
2.When someone is stumbling up a hill, the ground is often ___ or ___.
3.Unlike walking up smoothly, stumbling up shows a lack of ___ or ___.
4.The phrase "stumbling up" can also mean making slow progress with ___ or ___.
5.She kept stumbling up the ladder, trying hard not to ___ or ___.
6.When we say someone is stumbling up the career ladder, it means they are moving ___ but with ___.
7.After a long day, he was stumbling up the steps, showing he was very ___.