tread water

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

to expend effort simply in order to maintain one's current position without making any progress forward, staying afloat but not advancing toward any goal; the swimming metaphor of treading water, in which the swimmer uses constant leg and arm movement to keep the head above the surface without moving forward, captures the experience of being occupied with maintenance and survival while unable to improve one's situation or make headway on important objectives; it is used to describe organisations, careers, negotiations, or projects that are consuming energy and resources without generating meaningful development or movement toward their stated aims