@ #2: keeblerelf, do you even try to do your own research?

Yes, hbberlin, I do so.

But you didn't answer the whole query. What's the distinction between between grope for and look for and can I use look for instead in this context without changing the meaning? What does grope for express in this context? Please help. Thank you.

grope

search uncertainly for (a word or answer) in one's mind.

"she was groping for the words which would express what she thought"

grope for something

to try hard to find the right words to say or the right solution to a problem but without any real idea of how to do this

 She hesitated, seeming to grope for words.

https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/grope-...

to look for something blindly or uncertainly

grope for the right words

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grope

look for somebody/something

1 to try to find something that you have lost, or someone who is not where they should be

SYN search for

 I’m looking for Steve – have you seen him?

 Detectives are still looking for the escaped prisoner.

https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/look-for

@ #5: Thank you very much.

In this context I'd go for....

grope for something

to try hard to find the right words to say or the right solution to a problem but without any real idea of how to do this

 She hesitated, seeming to grope for words.

....or am I wrong ? In this case I would even think of try frantically to find the right words.

That's my problem, actually - there are many possibilities - but what meaning fits the context?!

what meaning fits the context?

The ones in #5 fit this context.

Do you know what "grope for something" means literally? Imagine someone doing that, but the thing they are trying to find is words. Here's a picture to help you visualise it.

@ #11 and #10/#5: 

#11:The ones in #5 fit this context.

#10: In this context I'd go for....

grope for something

to try hard to find the right words to say or the right solution to a problem but without any real idea of how to do this

 She hesitated, seeming to grope for words.

....or am I wrong ? In this case I would even think of try frantically to find the right words.

That's my problem, actually - there are many possibilities - but what meaning fits the context?!

Thank you very much for your reply. (#5)There are several different meanings given in #5. Do you think all those meanings fit the context or do you think one of them fits best? I think you have to opt for one of them.

@ #13: Once again, thank you very much for your post #5 and I also see the connection to the figurative meaning. But in my opinion and in my understanding and judgement there are different meanings of grope for in your post #5. Of course, as a non-native speaker have to accept your statement. Thank you very much indeed.

And thank you all for helping me.

All right then: I'd say that blindly and uncertainly are different from hard. Blindly and uncertainly express uncertainty and helplessness in my opinion. Hard expresses something that's difficult to do or the like. Therefore, I'd prefer try hard or, as I've said, try frantically in this context. But, for certain, this is a German feeling or impression I get reading this text.

Thank you.

Nevertheless, I'd say there is a distinction. Maybe, try desperately or frantically fits best here.

The definitions in #5 are all definitions of the same meaning of "grope for something", as you can see from the fact that they use the same example phrase "grope for words".

Let's say I am trying to understand the term "idiotensicher" in German, in the phrase "eine idiotensichere Formulierung".

I look it up in various dictionaries and I find:

- leicht verständlich, sodass nichts falsch gemacht werden kann. https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/idiotensicher

- so, dass nichts falsch gemacht werden kann, dass es jeder versteht https://www.dwds.de/wb/idiotensicher

- so beschaffen, dass bei der Handhabung o. Ä. kaum etwas falsch gemacht werden kann https://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/idiotensicher

"Leicht verständlich" does not mean the same thing as "So, dass es jeder versteht". And the third definition doesn't mention people understanding it at all.

So can I rephrase "idiotensicher" as "hoffentlich gut zu verstehen"?

Thank you. Yes, I know what you mean. You want to say Hoffentlich ist es gut zu verstehen or ...gut verständlich? Idiotensicher is different from hoffentlich gut zu verstehen in this context. In some respect, it has a slightly derogatory meaning in this context here. Thank you once again: I'm a bit slow-witted, I'm afraid, but I understand it now - thank you.