EXAMPLE: During its early years the new little company was just able to tread water. Expenses were paid, but no profit was achieved.

这家公司在刚开业的最初几年只能勉强生存。除去开支之后，根本没有利润。

youdao

Get in the water and swim (or tread water) for 2-3 minutes to get your body warmed up.

下到水里游泳或踩水2至3分钟来唤醒你的身体。

youdao

Intermediate and wet-weather tyres have full tread patterns, necessary to expel standing water when racing in the wet.

中性胎和湿地胎上都有完整的胎面花纹，这些胎面花纹在湿地比赛时用来排水的。

youdao

The result is a poisonous mix that means Zynga has to hemorrhage money just to tread water.

FORBES: Zynga Losing $150 On Every Customer, says Analyst

Not all emerging markets are struggling to tread water this year.

FORBES: With Oil & Gas Galore, Why Is Russia So Cheap?

Last term, the court seemed to tread water in most of its rulings, giving only occasional hints that a conservative revolution was waiting to take off.

NPR: A Newly Conservative Supreme Court?