run around in circles
Busy without progress
To run around in circles is to expend effort without making progress—staying busy while accomplishing nothing.
The image is of someone literally running in a loop, ending up where they started.
We've been running around in circles trying to get a straight answer from the insurance company.
Also run in circles.
- uselessnessLack of practical value
- ineffectivenessFailure to achieve results
- futilityLack of purpose
- fruitlessnessLack of productive outcome
- pointlessnessState of lacking meaning
inefficacy · treadmill · treading water · hamster wheel · aimlessness · wastefulness · unproductiveness · spinning wheels · spinning your wheels · going nowhere fast · gridlocked · inefficiency · lost · rut · back to square one · disoriented · wild goose chase · herding cats
run around in circlesmake progress
Move toward completion
move forward · make headway · advance · gain ground · forge ahead
run around in circlesbeeline
Most direct course
stay on track · stay focused · zero in · home in · single-minded pursuit
around, circle, running, runner, runners, circles, circled, circling, circular