泡あわを食くう

expression, godan verb (-u)

be flustered; lose one's head; panic

Idiomatic expression meaning to be so surprised or upset that one cannot think clearly; often used when someone panics in an emergency.

• 火か事じを見みて泡あわを食くって逃にげ出だした。

  Seeing the fire, he panicked and ran away.

• 突とつ然ぜんの質しつ問もんに泡あわを食くって何なにも答こたえられなかった。

  I was so flustered by the sudden question that I couldn't answer anything.