tread water

Idioms

Expend effort that maintains one's status but does not make much progress toward a goal, as in He was just treading water from paycheck to paycheck. This idiom alludes to the term's literal meaning, that is, “keep one's head above water by remaining upright and pumping the legs.”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

tread water

Fennell’s eye for image-making is her greatest directorial strength; it’s what keeps her films afloat even when their screenplays struggle to tread water.

From Salon ● Feb. 14, 2026

“And a more diverse set of sectors is helping broader averages like the S&P 500 tread water while near- and intermediate-term Tech dynamics play out,” he added.

From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026

The Colts, expected to tread water at best in 2025, are openly talking about playoffs and championships.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2025

In the meantime, the Dodgers will have to continue to tread water.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2025

Jonathan’s eyes flew open as he jammed his feet down and began to tread water.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023