Whiteisms
The Archive

Etymology Journal ยท R

Run around in circles

Meaning

To engage in a lot of activity without actually making any progress. It usually happens when people are confused, disorganized, or chasing their tails.

Frustrated, busy

Used in a sentence

  • We have been running around in circles for hours trying to fix this software glitch.
  • Stop running around in circles and just start from the beginning of the manual.
  • Without a plan, the committee will just keep running around in circles.

The backstory

This is a descriptive observation of animals or people moving in a repetitive path. It suggests a lack of direction despite an abundance of frantic energy.

Heard in

Nationwide

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