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

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. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

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 © Farlex 2017

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 © Farlex 2017

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. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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References in periodicals archive

For the first part of the study, thirty-eight individuals volunteered to be filmed while treading water. Their main characteristics are summarized in Table 1.

A new qualitative typology to classify treading water movement patterns

"So we were treading water but we've been able to strengthen quite well, but we'll keep looking for one or two.

Cooper demands improved displays; CHALLENGE Mark Cooper

I have been ordained 23 years, and I am still treading water.

Starting point

The former league champions are still treading water in the Premiership mid-table, but after last week's 30-21 win on home turf and yesterday's result, they could be poised for a rejuvenated run-in.

RUGBY UNION: Healey's the hero; Quins 20 Leicester 23

The problem was that the Big Three were treading water in terms of overall production levels while simultaneously hemorrhaging in market share.

Why Japanese OEMs do so well--& what Detroit can do to regain market

The paper industry seems to be treading water. It is not going under, but it is also not making any progress.

Waiting for Godot

Pc Andy Holder, PC Mark Bradley from Wombourne police waded into the lake at Himley Park near Dudley to recover a 6-year-old boy and his father who was treading water near the boat on Sunday.

Father and son saved by three policemen

The third adult, still treading water some distance from the spillway, connected a line between that boat and Keane's boat, after which the new arrival towed the Keane craft away from the spillway to open water.

Close call. (The Goodness of America)

NATCA claims that the Compressed Arrivals Procedure (CAPS) would compromise safety, with the president of the local chapter in Elgin, Illinois stating, 'We are barely treading water with what we have to handle right now.'

Air traffic controllers object to use of new arrivals system at Chicago airport

If neither backs down, males can wrestle for an hour, treading water the whole time.

The truth is, frogs bluff and crabs cheat

The technique requires some practice to keep from merely treading water or cycling in the water.

Deep water running for injury rehab

LEADING shares were treading water on Friday after their exertions of the last week.

Dull day for dealers

They must pass a physical test that includes swimming 800 yards, treading water for 15 minutes, swimming 75 feet underwater without breathing apparatus, running 1.5 miles, and completing a minimum number of push-ups and sit-ups.

Forensic diving: the latest in underwater investigation

According to the employment data, which is reported by business establishments, the state economy has been treading water. Since hitting a peak of about 2.82 million workers in April, the state job total has headed downward, resting some 40,000 jobs lower in August.

The employment paradox

The exhausted 46-yearold woman, who gave her name as Kay to rescuers, survived by treading water.

Cruise ship fall woman's lucky escape