tread water

tread water (third-person singular simple present treads water, present participle treading water, simple past (common in US) treaded water or (more common in UK) trod water, past participle treaded water or (more common in UK) trodden water or (more common in UK) trod water)

1. To remain afloat in the water without use of any buoyancy aid, by using kicking motions and hand motions.
   • 1857, R. M. Ballantyne, “chapter 13”, in The Coral Island:

     We gained the interior of the submarine cave without difficulty, and on emerging from the waves, supported ourselves for some time by treading water, while we held the two bundles above our heads.

2. (figuratively) To make no progress, expending effort just enough to maintain a stable position.
   • 2009, The Economist, The idea of progress: Onwards and upwards‎:

     The popular view is that, although technology and GDP advance, morals and society are treading water or, depending on your choice of newspaper, sinking back into decadence and barbarism.

   • 2010, The Economist, Aid and austerity‎:

     In the first scenario, the fund gets $13 billion, the minimum investment needed for the organisation to tread water.

• The strongly inflected UK forms were commonly used in US newspapers in the nineteenth century, but rarely thereafter.
• Not to be confused with walk on water.