Going in circles
Meaning
To repeatedly do or discuss something without making any progress or reaching a conclusion.
Origin
The phrase "going in circles" draws its power from a simple, primal image: the futility of movement without direction. Imagine a lost animal in a dense fog, constantly turning, only to find itself back at the same tree; or a ship without a compass, hopelessly tracing an aimless path. This vivid, physical experience of expending energy only to return to the starting point became a potent metaphor for any endeavor that lacked progress. It's a universal human frustration, perfectly encapsulated by the image of repetitive, unproductive motion, making the idiom instantly relatable across cultures and time.
Examples
- We've been discussing this issue for an hour now, and it feels like we're just going in circles.
- The project team realized they were going in circles with their old strategy and decided to pivot.