Tread Water

Synonyms of tread water

• stay afloat
• maintain one's position
• keep one's head above water

Antonyms of tread water

• sink
• submerge
• drown

Collocations of tread water

tread water

Frequency: 80 %

He was exhausted from treading water for hours in the pool.

tread water

Frequency: 65 %

She had to tread water for a few minutes before she could start swimming again.

tread water

Frequency: 45 %

He had to keep treading water until help arrived.

tread water

Frequency: 30 %

The water was too deep for him to touch the bottom, so he had to tread water.

tread water

Frequency: 20 %

She struggled to tread water in the rough waves.

Idiomatic Expressions for tread water

• Phrase: Tread water
  Meaning: To stay in a position where one is barely able to survive or keep afloat.
  Usage: I'm just trying to tread water until I can find a better job.