あたふた

あたふた

～する fly into a panic; panic; lose one's cool; become flustered.

●あまり急な話なのであたふたしてしまった. It came up at such short notice that I panicked. | It was so sudden that I was completely flustered [lost my cool completely].

あたふたと in a hurry; in a panic; hastily; hurriedly; in feverish haste; helter-skelter; hurry-scurry.

●会社から電話が来て, 彼はあたふたと出ていった. He got a phone call from his company and rushed out.

・彼はあたふたと階段をおりていった. He rushed down the stairs (in a panic). | He hurried down the stairs helter-skelter [hurry-scurry].