tread water

tread water

1. To move one's feet and hands in a motion that will allow one to keep one's head above the surface of the water. If you fall overboard, just tread water until we are able to circle back around and pick you up. He's terrified to go on a boat because he can't even tread water.
2. By extension, to maintain one's current status without making any significant progress; to be barely able to maintain one's current position or status. The market for paperback books has shrunk so much in recent years that our company has really just been treading water recently. With all the expenses we have to deal with in the new house, it feels like we're just treading water between paychecks.
See also: tread, water
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tread water

Expend effort that maintains one's status but does not make much progress toward a goal, as in He was just treading water from paycheck to paycheck. This idiom alludes to the term's literal meaning, that is, "keep one's head above water by remaining upright and pumping the legs."
See also: tread, water
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

tread water

COMMON If you tread water, you fail to make progress, but instead just continue to do the same things. I feel as if I've actually taken a step forward, and that I'm not just treading water. Without any hope of promotion, I feel I'm just treading water. Note: When swimmers tread water, they move their arms and legs in order to keep their head above the water without actually making progress in any direction.
See also: tread, water
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

tread water

1 maintain an upright position in the water by moving the feet with a walking movement and the hands with a downward circular motion. 2 fail to advance or make progress.
2 1996 Financial Post The NAPM index…has been treading water since the spring, and that is making a lot of people nervous.
See also: tread, water
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌtread ˈwater


1 keep yourself upright in deep water by moving your arms and legs
2 make no progress while you are waiting for something to happen: For the past year I’ve been treading water, in a boring job with no hope of promotion.
See also: tread, water
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

tread water

1. To keep the head above water while in an upright position by pumping the legs.
2. To expend effort but make little or no progress to achievement of a goal or an end.
See also: tread, water
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • at (one's) fingertips
  • at fingertips
  • at one's fingertips
  • at your fingertips
  • (from) top to toe
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • at doorstep
  • at expense
  • at (one's) expense
  • at someone's expense
References in periodicals archive
The helpless prince had to simply tread water as they hurled abuse at him and threatrened him with harpoon guns.
TERROR ATTACK ON PRINCE CHARLES
Foster, "Where Many Fear to Tread Water...," The Roanoke Times, August 19, 1996, A1, A8.
Forensic diving: the latest in underwater investigation
* Float or tread water for one minute without a life jacket.
A PFD for your boating program
Act IV doesn't tread water. No suicides, no good-evil combat, no macho heroics; instead, at the storm's climax, the lovers embrace and flee.
Swan Lake
That didn't end there as Carl, an employee concerned that we should be safe in deep water, took us to the Empire Pool and taught us to tread water, so that we were OK in a deep pool.
This is where I learnt to swim; Yousay IN YOUR OPINION..
QPR need more players and are just managing to tread water right now, but ninthplaced Norwich and Swansea, who are 12th, are flourishing.
New boys are three of fear
HOUSE prices edged ahead by 0.3% in February as the property market continued to "tread water", according to the findings of a new report from the Nationwide.
Housing market is treading water, report; ECONOMY TODAY: HOUSING
Later his diving boat sank off Thailand and he was forced to tread water for eight hours through the night until he was picked up by another boat.
He's cheated death three times before; OUR 19 HOURS ADRIFT
I remember looking up at the clock at the 58-minute mark and thinking how the Hull KR players were really starting to tread water.
We say
It was most unpleasant, watching him as he thrashed about without any apparent design or purpose other than to just tread water and stay afloat
Your Shout: I HAD an unfortunate experience on Sunday
The London market continued to tread water despite a positive reception to half-year results from drinks giant Diageo today.
City news
Escayola (1.35 Lingfield) Loomed large at the Bushes in the Cesarewitch last time but then appeared to tread water before finishing an honourable eighth.
View from the training centres: Newmarket
Let Miss Thing tread water in the shallow end of the pool--you're too busy having fun with your real friends to get caught up in the cattiness.
Gettin' the last laugh: dissed? Dumped? Ratted on? Who can blame you for wanting revenge? But there is a better way...
The shocked animal was too weakened by having to tread water in the deep end to make it to the shallow end where it could stand up.
What's that coo doing in my pool?The crawl, sir
Property dealer Mr Barne managed to tread water with his arm above his head hoping that someone would spot him from the shore.
Jet-skier rescued just in time; RIVER SEVERN