What is another word for treading water?
Pronunciation: [tɹˈɛdɪŋ wˈɔːtə] (IPA) 
"Treading water" is a phrase that describes a situation where someone is not making any progress, but merely staying afloat. Other synonyms for this phrase include "going nowhere fast," "stuck in place," or "spinning your wheels." When a person is treading water, they may feel like they are putting in effort but not getting any closer to achieving their goals. Other related phrases include "running in place," "marking time," "standing still," and "going in circles." These expressions all describe a feeling of being stuck or stagnant and can be used to provide vivid descriptions of situations where no progress is being made.
