しどろもどろ

A mimetic expression with no kanji form. Vividly conveys the image of someone whose speech or thinking has fallen apart — words come out jumbled, they backtrack, contradict themselves, and generally fail to communicate clearly.

Common collocations

• しどろもどろになる: to become flustered and incoherent
• しどろもどろの説明(せつめい): an incoherent explanation
• しどろもどろの言(い)い訳(わけ): a fumbling excuse
• しどろもどろに答(こた)える: to answer falteringly

Usage

Often used to describe someone who has been caught in a lie, faced with an unexpected question, or put on the spot. The word implies that their confusion is visible to others, creating a somewhat embarrassing situation.

Similar words

• たどたどしい: halting, stumbling — describes hesitant speech, often due to lack of fluency rather than panic
• 支離滅裂(しりめつれつ): incoherent, disjointed — describes illogical content rather than flustered delivery