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Region: General | Usage example: We kept spinning our wheels trying to fix the legacy bug.

Spinning your wheels

Meaning

Making effort without progress.

Usage

Used when work seems futile or stuck.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Driving cars spin wheels without traction when stuck.

Auto-based idioms came into use with the rise of automobiles.