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

If needed, tread water and call for help.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026

Until a definitive end to the conflict emerges, Bitcoin is likely to tread water.

From Barron's ● Apr. 15, 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

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

When I came to the place where the willows arched over a deep pool in the swift-running brook, I paused to tread water.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

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