N. derangement, disorder,
evection,
discomposure, disturbance, disorganization, deorganization,
dislocation,
perturbation,
interruption,
shuffling, inversion,
corrugation, involvement,
interchange V. derange, disarrange, misarrange, displace, misplace, mislay,
discompose, disorder, deorganize, discombobulate,
disorganize,
embroil, unsettle,
disturb,
confuse, trouble,
perturb,
jumble,
tumble,
shuffle, randomize,
huddle,
muddle,
toss,
hustle,
fumble,
riot, bring into disorder, put into disorder, throw into disorder,
muss, break the ranks,
disconcert,
convulse, break in upon,
unhinge,
dislocate, put out of joint, throw out of gear, turn topsy-turvy,
bedevil,
complicate, involve,
perplex,
confound,
imbrangle,
embrangle,
tangle,
entangle,
ravel,
tousle, towzle,
dishevel,
ruffle,
rumple,
litter,
scatter,
mix, rearrange
N. experiment, essay, analysis, screen, trial, tentative method, ttonnement,
verification,
probation, experimentum crucis, proof, (demonstration) 478,
criterion,
diagnostic, test,
probe, crucial test, acid test, litmus test,
crucible, reagent, check,
touchstone,
pix,
assay,
ordeal, ring, litmus paper, curcuma paper, turmeric paper, test tube, analytical instruments,
empiricism, rule of thumb, feeler, trial balloon, pilot balloon, messenger balloon, pilot engine,
scout, straw to show the wind, speculation, random shot, leap in the dark,
analyzer,
analyst, assayist,
adventurer, experimenter,
experimentist,
experimentalist,
scientist, engineer, technician, subject, experimentee, guinea pig, experimental animal,
protocol, experimental method, blind experiment, double-blind experiment, controlled experiment,
poll, survey, opinion poll, epidemiological survey, retrospective analysis, retrospective survey, prospective survey, prospective analysis, statistical analysis, literature search, library research, tryout,
audition, discovery, measurement, evidence,
deduction, induction,
abduction V. experiment, essay, try, try out,
assay, make an experiment, make a trial of, give a trial to, put on trial, subject to trial, experiment upon,
rehearse, put to the test, bring to the test, submit to the test, submit to the proof, prove,
verify, test, touch, practice upon, try one's strength, road-test, test drive, take for a spin, test fly,
grope, feel one's way, grope for one's way,
fumble, ttonner, aller ttons, put out a feeler, throw out a feeler, send up a trial balloon, send up a pilot balloon, see how the land lies, get the lay of the land, test the waters, feel out, sound out, take the pulse, see, check, check out, see how the wind blows, consult the barometer, feel the pulse, fish for, bob for, cast for, beat about for, angle,
trawl, cast one's net, beat the bushes, try one's fortune,
explore Adj. experimental,
empirical,
probative,
probatory,
probationary,
provisional,
analytic,
docimastic,
tentative, unverified, unproven, speculative, untested
Adv. on trial, under examination, on probation, under probation, on one's trial, on approval
Phr. check it out, give it a try, see how it goes, "run it up the flagpole and see who salutes."
N. unskillfulness, want of skill,
incompetence, incompentency, inability,
infelicity,
indexterity, inexperience,
disqualification,
unproficiency,
quackery, folly,
stupidity,
indiscretion, thoughtlessness (neglect) 460, sabotage, mismanagement, misconduct, impolicy,
maladministration, misrule, misgovernment, misapplication, misdirection,
misfeasance, petticoat government, absence of rule, rule of thumb,
bungling, failure, screw loose, too many cooks,
blunder, etourderie gaucherie, act of folly, balourdise,
botch,
botchery, bad job, sad work, sprat sent out to catch a whale, much ado about nothing, wild-goose chase,
bungler,
fool V. be unskillful, not see an inch beyond one's nose,
blunder,
bungle,
boggle,
fumble,
botch,
bitch,
flounder,
stumble,
trip,
hobble, put one's foot in it, make a mess of, make hash of, make sad work of, overshoot the mark, play tricks with, play puck,
mismanage, misconduct, misdirect, misapply, missend, stultify oneself, make a fool of oneself, commit oneself, act foolishly, play the fool, put oneself out of court, lose control, lose control of oneself, lose one's head, lose one's cunning, begin at the wrong end, do things by halves, make two bites of a cherry, play at cross purposes, strain at a gnat and swallow a camel, put the cart before the horse, lock the stable door when the horse is stolen, not know what one is about, not know one's own interest, not know on which side one's bread is buttered, stand in one's own light, quarrel with one's bread and butter, throw a stone in one's own garden, kill the goose which lays the golden eggs, pay dear for one's whistle, cut one's own throat, bum one's fingers, knock one's head against a stone wall, beat one's head against a stone wall, fall into a trap, catch a tartar, bring the house about one's ears, have too many eggs in one basket (imprudent) 863, have too many irons in the fire, mistake, take the shadow for the substance, bark up the wrong tree, be in the wrong box, aim at a pigeon and kill a crow, take the wrong pig by the tail, get the wrong pig by the tail, get the wrong sow by the ear, get the dirty end of the stick, put the saddle on the wrong horse, put a square peg into a round hole, put new wine into old bottles, cut blocks with a razor, hold a farthing candle to the sun, fight with a shadow, grasp at a shadow, catch at straws, lean on a broken reed, reckon without one's host, pursue a wild goose chase, go on a fool's goose chase, sleeveless errand, go further and fare worse, lose one's way, miss one's way, fail
Adj. unskillful,
inexpert,
bungling,
awkward,
clumsy,
unhandy,
lubberly,
gauche,
maladroit,
left-handed,
heavy-handed,
slovenly,
slatternly,
gawky,
adrift, at fault, inapt, unapt,
inhabile, untractable, unteachable,
giddy,
inconsiderate,
stupid, inactive, incompetent, unqualified, disqualified, ill-qualified, unfit,
quackish, raw, green, inexperienced,
rusty, out of practice, unaccustomed, unused, untrained,
uninitiated,
unconversant,
shiftless, unstatesmanlike,
unadvised, ill-advised,
misadvised, ill-devised, ill-imagined, ill- judged, ill-contrived, ill-conducted, unguided, misguided, misconducted,
foolish, wild,
infelicitous, penny wise and pound foolish
Phr. one's fingers being all thumbs, the right hand forgets its cunning, il se noyerait dans une goutte d'eau, incidit in scyllam qui vult vitare charybdim, out of the frying pan into the fire, non omnia possumus omnes