tread water
Float through effort
To tread water is to stay afloat in an upright position by moving the legs and arms without making forward progress.
Figuratively, it means to maintain a position without advancing: The company has been treading water since the merger fell through.
Both senses suggest effort expended merely to avoid sinking or falling behind.
Flat highland area
- standstillTotal cessation of movement
- holding patternCircular flight awaiting clearance
- limboState of uncertain waiting
- rutChannel or tedium
inertia · idle · stuck · going nowhere · spinning wheels · marking time · status quo · maintenance mode
Fluid's upward resistance
- flotationAbility to stay afloat
- lifejacketBuoyant vest for water
- drowningDeath by water inhalation
- rescueSave from harm
adrift · peril · emergency · lifeboat · distress · shipwreck · stranded · castaway
Foot-delivered strike
- floatBuoyant object or vehicle
- verticalAt right angles groundward
- poolCollective fund or basin
- scullingDouble-oar rowing technique
legs · arms · technique · endurance · swim test · lifeguard · synchronized · aquatics
Sustained effort capacity
- staminaCapacity for sustained effort
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
- survival modeEmergency coping state
- hanging onContinuing despite difficulty
getting by · managing · sustaining · weathering · outlasting · grinding · scraping by · making do
plateau
Flat highland area
- standstillTotal cessation of movement
- holding patternCircular flight awaiting clearance
- limboState of uncertain waiting
rut · inertia · idle · stuck · going nowhere · spinning wheels · marking time · status quo · maintenance mode · waiting game
buoyancy
Fluid's upward resistance
- flotationAbility to stay afloat
- lifejacketBuoyant vest for water
- drowningDeath by water inhalation
rescue · adrift · peril · emergency · lifeboat · distress · shipwreck · stranded · castaway · life preserver
kick
Foot-delivered strike
sculling · legs · arms · technique · endurance · swim test · lifeguard · synchronized · aquatics · bobbing
endurance
Sustained effort capacity
- staminaCapacity for sustained effort
- persistenceContinuing despite difficulty
- survival modeEmergency coping state
hanging on · getting by · managing · sustaining · weathering · outlasting · grinding · scraping by · making do · just surviving
- stallingstall, stalling, delay, hesitate, procrastinate
- adaptabilityadapt, flexibility, resilience, adaptability, pliability
- motion idiomsin motion, on the move, on the go, move forward, move along
- being stuckstuck, stall, halt, rut, jam
- Emergency Actionsduck, dodge, stop drop roll, brace, shelter
- holding firmhold, hold fast, hold firm, hold on, hold onto
tread watermake progress
Move toward completion
advance · move forward · forge ahead · fast-track · gain ground
tread waterbear fruit
Yield positive results
pay dividends · hit one's stride · fire on all cylinders · capitalize · leverage
tread waterswim
Move through water
stroke · freestyle · backstroke · breaststroke · crawl
water, tread, treading, treadmill, treads, treadle, treaded, retreading, treader