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• n  the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
• v  make an explosive sound
  sputtering engines
• v  cause to undergo a process in which atoms are removed
• v  climb awkwardly, as if by scrambling
• v  utter with a spitting sound, as if in a rage
• v  spit up in an explosive manner

• Helped by trade with China, Asia's export-driven economies are sputtering back to life.
• A crumpled car sputtering along in the mud on its rims can bring a crowd of thousands to their feet.
• We do wish you were here, because attracting outsiders has always been our primary economic engine, and our engine is sputtering.

• spatter
• spattering
• splatter
• splattering
• sputter
• splutter
• clamber
• scramble
• shin
• shinny
• skin
• struggle
• spit out

News & Articles

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• Rural America posts first-ever loss in population
  Rural America is now being hit by sputtering growth in retirement and recreation areas, once residential hot spots for baby boomers. Read more
  June 13, 2013 - Columbia Missourian
• Boomers leave rural US behind
  Long weighed down by dwindling populations in farming and coal communities and the movement of young people to cities, rural counties are being hit by sputtering growth in retirement and recreation areas, once residential hot spots for baby boomers.
  June 13, 2013 - Minnesota Public Radio
• Twins rally for 4-3 win, Phillies' 5th loss in row
  SCORECARD Charlie Manuel was on edge before the game, bristling at a question about whether Ryan Howard would be moved out of the cleanup spot and expressing an overall concern about his sputtering team. Philadelphia's manager only had more problems to ponder afterward. Clete Thomas had a career-high four hits for Minnesota and came home on a wild pitch for the go-ahead run in the eighth inning ...
  June 13, 2013 - WFMZ Eastern Pennsylvania and Western New Jersey

Quotes

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• Bruce Bochy in MiamiHerald.com
  We've got to get the line moving. We've got to get some base hits,said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "It's pretty simple. We need some guys on base and then we got to get a timely hit. And right now we're sputtering."
• Warren Buffett in New York Times
  We are not out of problems yet,Mr. Buffett said last week in an interview, in which he reflected on the lessons of the last 12 months. "We have got to get the sputtering economy back so it is functioning as it should be."
• Andy Pettitte in USA Today
  It seems like the whole postseason so far, we are kind of sputtering along a little bit and maybe when we give up the lead, our guys fire right back and score some runs,said Pettitte, who tied John Smoltz atop the career list with his 15th...