treads water
Swims without advancing
To tread water is to stay afloat in an upright position by moving the legs and arms, keeping the head above the surface without making forward progress.
Figuratively, treading water means maintaining a current position without advancing or declining: The company has been treading water since the merger fell through.
I'm just treading water until I figure out what's next.
- lifesavingPreserving human existence
- plateauingCeasing to rise
- floatingStaying atop liquid
- stagnationAbsence of flow or progress
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
wading · deep end · sink or swim · splashing · swimming · buoyancy · doggy paddle · self-preservation · survival mode · idling · stroking · paddling · holding pattern · marking time · biding time · kicking · going nowhere · spinning wheels
treads watermakes headway
Achieves forward movement
races · sprints · swims · advances · moves forward
treads wateradvances
Forward movements or progress
moves forward · forges ahead · pushes forward · progresses · thrives
tread, treading, treaded, trod, trodden, treader, water, waters, watered