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I came across the word foundering in this sentence, "When Kerry's candidacy was foundering before the crucial Iowa caucuses, the arrival of the senator's former crew mates coincided with his rebound." I wondered if they had meant "flounder," though probably not. Yet, AHD online says that it is often confused with "flounder." It comes from a Latin word meaning "bottom." It used to mean knocking enemies down, according to this AHD site. Yet, now it means to "fail utterly or collapse." Aren't those opposite definitions? | ||
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I think that the report uses an analogy that is well-maintained in the further reference to "...the senator's former crew mates ..." In UK English "to founder" means "to fill with water and sink" - as of a ship. It also has a secondary meaning, "to fail" To flounder means to struggle as in mud or to perform a task badly or without knowledge. So it would be quite possible for Kerry to flounder and then to founder! Richard English | |||
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Those metaphors aren't quite dead yet. I've got an image of the M.V. Kerry sinking to the bottom and bouncing back up to the surface. | |||
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In persuing my Britney, I flounder. No goal, I'm told, could be unsounder. Though it may not be right, I looked for her each night 'Cause it's there in my dreams that I founder. (But I'm getting ahead of myself...) | |||
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