in a rut

1. In a settled or established habit or course of action, especially a boring one. For example, We go to the seashore every summer—we're in a rut, or After ten years at the same job she says she's in a rut. This expression alludes to having a wheel stuck in a groove in the road. [Early 1800s]

Example Sentences

For all his messing with the menu in search of a Michelin star, Carmy is stuck in a rut — cue clip from “Groundhog Day” — and has also become maddeningly inarticulate, almost beyond speech; much of what White does this year is listen and react, doing subtle work with his face and fingers, interjecting an occasional “Yeah,” while family or colleagues unburden themselves or take him to task.

From Los Angeles Times

I’d been in a rut with dating, feeling as stagnant as the 405 Freeway on a Friday afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times

In the book, none of the three women has quite the life they hoped for and Ellie is stuck in a rut as she reaches her milestone birthday.

From BBC

Ms Hext, who trains at Team Bath, said she was "in a rut" while in hospital, but was lucky the Paralympics were being shown on TV.

From BBC

Another commenter wrote on a separate post: “I use them to diversify my menu. When we get in a rut eating the same stuff month after month we order a week or so of blue apron or hello fresh and the recipes we like we add to the rotation. We haven’t done it in a while. We'll do it again soon!”

From Salon

Related Words

• ended www.thesaurus.com
• established 
• resolved