1 (sway, stagger) tambalear(se) he was sent reeling by a blow to the head un golpe en la cabeza hizo que se tambaleara; he was reeling about drunkenly caminaba tambaleándose; caminaba haciendo eses (informal); he lost his balance and reeled backwards perdió el equilibrio y se fue para atrás
he never saw the punch coming - /blood trickled into his mouth as he reeled backwards/ I stood up and almost fell, reeling against the deck rail she gave him a smack in the face that sent him reeling off the pavement he went reeling down the street
2 (be shaken) our troops were reeling under the enemy bombardment nuestras tropas sufrían el impacto del bombardeo enemigo; I'm still reeling from the shock todavía no me he recuperado del susto
it left us reeling with disbelief the last 10 days have left investors reeling the people of Estonia reeled in shock as the price of basic foodstuffs doubled the news sent share prices reeling we reeled [at] the news I reeled at the very thought the country reeled in shock and disbelief at the announcement
3 (spin) [+mind, head, brain] dar vueltas the room reeled before her eyes la habitación le daba vueltas
my head is reeling his mind still reeled with the things he had heard his mind reeled at the question my brain reeled with all my plans for the new house to [make] sb's mind reel