scrabble

Universal Words verb [V] [usually +adv./prep.] ~ (around / about) (for sth) (especially BrE) to try to find or to do sth in a hurry or with difficulty, often by moving your hands or feet about quickly, without much control: She scrabbled around in her bag for her glasses. * He was scrabbling for a foothold on the steep slope. * a sound like rats scrabbling on the other side of the wall * In his panic, he began scrabbling at the lock. * The kids scrabbled up the slope.