tread water (figurative)
idiomPart oftreaded
tread water (figurative) — idiom
1. to stay in the same situation without making progress or falling further behind,
1.idiom
Definition
to stay in the same situation without making progress or falling further behind, especially when you are trying to improve but outside forces prevent it.
Example
The company has been treading water for years, with neither growth nor serious losses.
Lakan felt he was just treading water in his job — working hard but getting nowhere.