tread water

Idioms  

1. 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.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tread water

A safe self-rescue includes being able to tread water for 30 seconds, children being able to float on their back for 60 seconds and swim 15m to exit the water unaided.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

If needed, tread water and call for help.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026

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

Until further policy pronouncements on Iran are made, expect oil prices to tread water.

From Barron's ● Jan. 13, 2026

We both tread water, staring at each other, our eyes all bugged in fear, and he goes: “Yo, I don’t know if I could make this either.”

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña