He went completely under, came up spluttering, and found his footing.

There was no sound but the occasional spluttering of a candle.

The house was dark but for the weak spluttering of a candle in a top floor window.

Even the occasional spluttering of an overloaded control board had ceased.

I reach for the coffeepot when it ceases its spluttering.

Otto was speaking - spluttering would be more apt a description - with his mouth full.

One evening there came a sudden flash of fire and a spluttering, sizzling noise.

He came up spluttering and she broke the wax seal, pouring half the contents over his head.

I rolled over spluttering, and came to rest convulsed with breathless laughter.

Gradually the sounds behind them faded, first to a steady spluttering, then to a softer, muted roar.

"I heard the spluttering of a port-fire, and smelt the saltpetre of the match.

Kennet said: 'Cue, I think for angry spluttering.'

But their studied charm was rarely in evidence amid the usual spluttering, muttering, jeering and general raucousness of Britain's parliamentary deliberations.

At last it was over and Ben, spluttering good-naturedly, held up Honey's arm and gasped, "The winnah!"

This conflict of tears and laughter always reminds me of the flickering and spluttering of a brightly burning candle when one sprinkles it with water.

No coughing, no spluttering, no tears running down their cheeks: they were just slightly dazed, slightly woozy, slightly apathetic.

Splut: Another nickname for the British Rail Class 25, referring to their habit of spluttering when their engines cut out and failed, which they often did.

The marks on these works were said to be extraordinary: "The paint flung and squeezed on to the canvases, spilling and spluttering across their surfaces and smeared on with the artist's fingers."

As me ships turned away, Eiric noted that hardly a South- ern ship remained afloat For more than a mile the water burned and the spluttering of the flaming, sinking ships was blended with the screams of the maimed and drowning.

To sift the good from the bad in the daily onset taxes all our wits.no use battling against such a stream; all the shouting, the crying and the spluttering of all times have not arrested it, nor will they, for rubbish is necessary... thistledown blown hither and thither by the wind.

She heard it splutter and start, then they were off.

Instead, his face fell into the water and he came up, spluttering.

He spluttered and fought to keep himself from going under.

I spluttered a little at the first taste, but quickly felt the better for it.

After spluttering for a moment he made a fresh attempt.

He spluttered for a few minutes before coming out with something coherent.

She heard the man splutter, turn and stride after her.

She had turned the lamp too low and it began to splutter.

He turned to Karl who had spluttered into his drink.

She spluttered a laugh at the sight of his face.

They both tried to say something, but couldn't get the words out for spluttering.

It picked up for a few seconds, then spluttered and died.

The old man was spluttering with rage as he closed the door of the study.

Art plunged his head in the water, and pulled it out spluttering.

Joe spluttered and then shook his head like a dog.

Jim spluttered as the next wave broke over his head.

Behind her, Maria spluttered a bit as she disappeared around the house.

The bishop spluttered and for a moment seemed about to argue.

She spluttered as if he had dumped cold water down her dress.

And before she could begin to splutter with outrage, worse came.

His head broke the surface of the pool and he spluttered.

People cursed and spluttered, but the six men ignored them.

She turned and confronted the woman, who was now spluttering with outrage.

On the fourth pull the motor spluttered into life, and died.

Then it was as if fireworks were spluttering into life in the walls and floor.