treading water

But after hours of treading water, poor exhausted Smith drowned.

但经过与洪水几个小时的斗争, 可怜的史密斯精疲力竭,溺水身亡.

I began to feel like I was treading water, instead of drowning in it.

直译是我觉得我开始踩在水上了, 而不是被它淹着.意思应该是说自己开始由被动变主动了.

In contrast , many competitors were treading water ( or sinking ) .

反之, 我们的竞争对手则在 沉没.

Only then will we know whether humans who stepped up, in or forward, sustained a fulfilling working existence, or were merely treading water ahead of a tsunami.

只有到那时我们才会知道，那些向上、向内或者向前迈步的人们是维持了充实的工作存在，还是只是在海啸来临前蹚水。

I'm short of money and just about treading water until pay day.

我没钱了,因此就等着发工资的日子.

This may require doing some breaststroke, or treading water or floating for a little while.

这可能需要你游一会蛙泳, 或者踩水,或者漂浮一会.

He kept afloat by treading water.

他靠踩水来保持身体不向下沉.

That's why they steamed ahead while we were treading water.

这就是为什么他们高歌猛进而我们状态低迷的原因.

By the end of June, 1973 we were treading water.

直到1973年6月底, 我们还是止步不前.

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.

取决于你爱看哪种立场的报纸，流行的看法是：尽管科技和GDP发展了，道德与社会却停滞不前，甚至可说是，正在向颓废和野蛮沉沦。

While treading water, one does not push down on the water.

当你做踩水动作时, 你不会从水面之上向水下压水.