tread water

US /trɛd ˈwɔtər/
UK /trɛd ˈwɔtər/
"tread water" picture
1.

patinar, não progredir

to stay in the same position without making progress, especially in a difficult situation

:
The company has been treading water for months, waiting for the economy to improve.
A empresa tem patinado por meses, esperando a economia melhorar.
I feel like I'm just treading water in my career, not really advancing.
Sinto que estou apenas patinando na minha carreira, sem realmente avançar.
2.

boiar, manter-se à tona

to stay afloat in water by moving the legs and arms slightly

:
The lifeguard taught the children how to tread water.
O salva-vidas ensinou as crianças a boiar.
She could tread water for a long time, which saved her when the boat capsized.
Ela conseguia boiar por muito tempo, o que a salvou quando o barco virou.