Tread water

verb

To keep your body upright and floating on the surface of the water by moving your legs and sometimes arms.

The lifeguard training required me to tread water for three minutes.
Visual representation of "tread water" - To keep your body upright and floating on the surface of the water by moving your legs and sometimes arms

Often appears as...

  • tread water for
  • learn to tread water
verb

To avoid making progress or making a decision.

The project is just treading water until the manager returns from holiday.
Visual representation of "tread water" - To avoid making progress or making a decision

Often appears as...

  • tread water until
  • tread water with decision

Usage tips

Disapproving

Idiomatic

verb

To keep your body upright and floating on the surface of the water by moving your legs and sometimes arms.

The lifeguard training required me to tread water for three minutes.
Visual representation of "tread water" - To keep your body upright and floating on the surface of the water by moving your legs and sometimes arms

Often appears as...

  • tread water for
  • learn to tread water
verb

To avoid making progress or making a decision.

The project is just treading water until the manager returns from holiday.
Visual representation of "tread water" - To avoid making progress or making a decision

Often appears as...

  • tread water until
  • tread water with decision

Usage tips

Disapproving

Idiomatic

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "tread water"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Water Safety

Understanding this term is vital in swimming lessons and discusses staying safe in water.

Illustration for Water Safety
Kids, during today's lesson, we're going to learn how to tread water.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Physical Action

Implies constant movement of limbs, it's an active effort, not a passive state.

Illustration for Physical Action
To stay above water, she had to actively tread water.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Energy Consuming

Suggests a physically demanding activity that can be tiring.

Illustration for Energy Consuming
After ten minutes of treading water, I was exhausted.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Water Safety

Understanding this term is vital in swimming lessons and discusses staying safe in water.

Illustration for Water Safety
Kids, during today's lesson, we're going to learn how to tread water.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Physical Action

Implies constant movement of limbs, it's an active effort, not a passive state.

Illustration for Physical Action
To stay above water, she had to actively tread water.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Energy Consuming

Suggests a physically demanding activity that can be tiring.

Illustration for Energy Consuming
After ten minutes of treading water, I was exhausted.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Water Safety

Understanding this term is vital in swimming lessons and discusses staying safe in water.

Illustration for Water Safety
Kids, during today's lesson, we're going to learn how to tread water.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Physical Action

Implies constant movement of limbs, it's an active effort, not a passive state.

Illustration for Physical Action
To stay above water, she had to actively tread water.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Energy Consuming

Suggests a physically demanding activity that can be tiring.

Illustration for Energy Consuming
After ten minutes of treading water, I was exhausted.
Visual representation of the word "Tread water"

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