treading water

USAGE SUMMARY

"treading water" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use "treading water" to describe a situation where an individual or organization is only just managing to keep up with current events or difficulties, but not making any progress. For example, "The company is still treading water, with no noticeable improvement in their financial records."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Treading water".

The New York Times

Business is treading water.

The New York Times

They're treading water".

The New York Times

His contemporaries are treading water.

The New Yorker

It is actually treading water.

The Guardian - Business

Just treading water isn't enough.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's treading water for schools".

The New York Times

It is momentarily treading water.

The New York Times

I was definitely not treading water.

The New York Times

Grab the sunscreen and start treading water.

The New York Times - Arts

This is treading water, not leadership.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "treading water" when you want to convey a sense of stagnation or a lack of meaningful progress, especially when effort is being expended simply to maintain the status quo.

Common error

Avoid using "treading water" when you actually want to describe a period of rest or consolidation, as the phrase typically carries a negative connotation of being stuck despite expending energy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "treading water" functions as a verb phrase, often used figuratively. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a situation where effort is expended simply to maintain the status quo, without making significant progress. Many examples of Ludwig show this phrase being used with the present continuous tense, indicating an ongoing state of minimal advancement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiomatic phrase "treading water" is a versatile expression used to describe a state of stagnation, where effort is being expended merely to maintain the current position without achieving meaningful progress. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. As exemplified by Ludwig, it is found across diverse contexts, most commonly in news and business. While "treading water" is useful for conveying a sense of being stuck, alternative phrases like "making no headway" or "stagnating" may provide nuances depending on the specific context. Therefore, understanding the subtle implications of this phrase, as well as its alternatives, enables more precise and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making no headway

Emphasizes the absence of forward movement or advancement.

stuck in place

Highlights the immobility and lack of change in a situation.

marking time

Suggests a temporary state of inactivity, often while waiting for something to happen.

going nowhere

Implies a lack of purpose or direction, resulting in no progress.

stagnating

Focuses on the negative aspect of inactivity, suggesting decay or decline.

at a standstill

Indicates a complete cessation of movement or progress.

in limbo

Conveys a sense of uncertainty and suspension, lacking resolution or progress.

on hold

Suggests a deliberate pause or delay in activity.

in neutral

Implies a disengaged state, neither moving forward nor backward.

deadlocked

Highlights a situation where opposing forces prevent any progress.

FAQs

How can I use "treading water" in a sentence?

You can use "treading water" to describe situations where someone is maintaining their current position but not making progress. For example, "The company is just "treading water" while waiting for the economy to improve".

What does it mean to say someone is "treading water"?

Saying someone is "treading water" means they are exerting effort simply to stay in the same place, without advancing or achieving anything new. It implies a lack of progress despite ongoing activity.

What can I say instead of "treading water"?

You can use alternatives like "making no headway", "stagnating", or "marking time" depending on the context.

Is "treading water" only used in a literal sense related to swimming?

No, "treading water" is commonly used figuratively to describe situations in business, personal life, or other areas where someone is exerting effort without achieving significant progress. Its literal meaning comes from swimming, where one stays afloat without moving forward.