clumsy motion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clumsy motion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a movement that is awkward or lacking grace, often in physical actions or gestures. Example: "The dancer's clumsy motion during the performance drew the audience's attention for all the wrong reasons."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

You ever tried to grab something quickly out of your pocket?" Dâm-Funk makes a jerky, clumsy motion.

The Guardian - Music

With a final, clumsy motion, I clipped the rope that was tied to my harness into two carabiners at the route's end.

The New York Times - Travel

But with each clumsy motion, the humanoid robot is demonstrating an important new way for androids to deal with challenging or unfamiliar environments.

MIT Technology Review

"Ah, Grace," she said, jumping up for an embrace — the first time she had ever done this — and with a clumsy motion of her hand scattering the jigsaw pieces.

The New Yorker

"Ah, Grace," she said, jumping up for an embrace the first time she had ever done this and with a clumsy motion of her hand scattering the jigsaw pieces.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Clumsy move?

BBC

Nonhinged external fixators are currently favored for their simplicity but they totally prevent joint motion, are clumsy, and still present pin tract problems [ 4, 6, 15].

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

The 35-millimeter motion-picture cameras were clumsy to handle and frequently had to be refocused and relighted.

The New York Times - Sports

The sea otter walks with a clumsy, rolling gait on land, and can run in a bounding motion.

Wikipedia

As Russian bloggers at Tjournal pointed out, Boris is clumsy as hell, and makes a lot of unnecessary, decidedly non-robotronic motions.

Vice

For the amputee, this means learning a new, much clumsier language of movement, like Morse code as a substitute for direct speech: making a fist may now require the deliberate, if counterintuitive, contraction of one's upper deltoid, and bending an elbow may involve a sequence of shrugging motions in the shoulder and neck.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing physical actions, use "clumsy motion" to convey a lack of grace or coordination. Be specific about what makes the motion clumsy, adding details to enhance the image for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "clumsy motion" to describe abstract concepts or situations that are not literal physical movements. Stick to literal actions or gestures for clarity. Instead of "a clumsy motion of the talks", you could say "a breakdown of the talks".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clumsy motion" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "clumsy" modifies the noun "motion". Ludwig examples show it describing physical movements lacking grace or coordination.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "clumsy motion" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe awkward or ungraceful movements. While Ludwig indicates that the phrase is correct and usable, its occurrence is relatively rare. It's most commonly found in News & Media, implying a neutral register. The phrase can be replaced with alternatives like "awkward movement" or "ungainly motion" to diversify writing. When using "clumsy motion", ensure it's applied to literal physical actions for clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

awkward movement

Replaces "clumsy" with a synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

ungainly motion

Substitutes "clumsy" with another word implying a lack of grace.

awkward gesture

Focuses on a specific type of movement, implying a lack of smoothness.

fumbling action

Highlights the difficulty and lack of control in the movement.

stumbling movement

Suggests a loss of balance or coordination during the motion.

bumbling motion

Similar to "clumsy", but often implies foolishness or incompetence.

inept movement

Uses a more formal term to describe the lack of skill in the motion.

uncoordinated movement

Directly describes the lack of coordination in the action.

maladroit motion

A more sophisticated synonym for "clumsy", implying a lack of skill.

ham-fisted movement

Implies a heavy-handed and unskilled action.

FAQs

How can I use "clumsy motion" in a sentence?

"Clumsy motion" describes an awkward or uncoordinated movement. For example, "The robot's "clumsy motion" revealed its limitations in navigating the uneven terrain." You can also say "awkward movement" or "ungainly motion".

What words are similar to "clumsy motion"?

Alternatives to "clumsy motion" include "awkward movement", "ungainly motion", or "fumbling action". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "clumsy movement" or "clumsy motion"?

Both "clumsy movement" and "clumsy motion" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Clumsy motion" might slightly emphasize the dynamic aspect of the action, while "clumsy movement" may refer to a single act or instance of moving in a clumsy way. Choose the one that fits the context best.

What does "clumsy" mean?

"Clumsy" means lacking grace or skill in movement or handling things. It suggests awkwardness or a tendency to drop or break things. A "clumsy person" might make a "clumsy motion" when trying to catch a falling object.