go (around) in circles

to be very active but not achieve anything.

His mind went in circles around the problem, but he couldn't seem to find a solution for it.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form talk in circles - speak a lot but without saying anything important:

Every time the mayor speaks he seems to talk in circles.

Related vocabulary: around and around, round and round, go around and around

• without a murmur
• without a second thought
• without a shadow of a doubt
• without fail
• without further ado
• without missing a beat
• without more ado
• without question
• without rhyme or reason
• without so much as a by-your-leave
• with own fair hands
• with regard to
• with regard to something
• with respect to
• with respect to something
• with strings
• with strings attached
• with tail between legs
• with tail between your legs
• with teacher's hat on
• with [teacher's/lawyer's etc.] hat on
• with the best of them
• with the best will in the world
• with tongue in cheek
• with your back against the wall