going in circles
Repeating without progress
Going in circles describes repeated effort that returns to the same place without progress.
The image is of walking or driving in a loop rather than toward a destination.
We've been going in circles for an hour—let's just ask for directions.
Figuratively, it applies to discussions or problem-solving that revisit the same points without resolution: This meeting is going in circles.
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- recurrenceReturn of something previous
- same old same oldWearisome repetition of routine
- rotationTurning on an axis
- orbitCurved celestial path
indecision · loop · cycle · stagnation · confusion · back to square one · repetition · whirl · spiral · treadmill · hamster wheel · dog chasing tail · stuck in a rut · pattern · running in place · feedback loop · hesitation · gyre
- navigation errorsmissed exit, wrong direction, wrong way, off course, getting lost
- confusionconfusion, confused, bewilderment, perplexity, baffled
- cycleslife cycle, cycle, cycles, period, rhythms
- waste of timeprocrastination, busywork, dawdling, dithering, goofing off
- futile argumentsbeating dead horse, dead end, lost cause, moot point, brick wall
- Incompetencebungle, failure, botch, inability, blunder
going in circlesmaking progress
moving forward · advancing · making headway · forging ahead · gaining ground
going, goes, gone, goers, circle, circles, circled, circling, circular