spin one's wheels

The rules of the language, if I gave them all to you - you'd spin your wheels.

Sometimes it's exactly as it sounded, and you end up spinning your wheels.

Other thing is, when you're on a ship you aren't just spinning your wheels.

When asked if he plans any last-minute barnstorming, they say that "talking to people is just spinning your wheels."

You spin your wheels and it seems for naught."

"You find yourself spinning your wheels," said Mike Piazza, who was 0 for 3 today.

Heck, he's just going to sit back and hide behind the biggest darn bench in the country while you spin your wheels.

It's not like you to spin your wheels."

But novels aren't turbines, and spinning your wheels isn't always the best way to generate energy.

You just can't spin your wheels, and we're spinning."

Avoid revving your engine and spinning your wheels on the slippery surface.

You guys are spinning your wheels.

Spinning your wheels for five quarters.

You, on the other hand, are spinning your wheels putting criminals back on the streets I'm risking life and limb to keep clean."

Spinning Your Wheels.

"You're spinning your wheels, Hal.

"Don't spin your wheels, grandpa," Voom-Voom rumbled carelessly.

'Don't spin your wheels, Pete.

"But then after a couple of years in the N.F.L. I realized this: If you don't make big plays somewhere along the line, you're spinning your wheels.

But beyond a certain point-I'm talking of hours, or fatigue-your efficiency-anyone's efficiency, my own certainly included drops to the point that when you think you're working, you're really spinning your wheels."

For $10 (preregistration) or $15 (on race day), you can spin your wheels between the start and finish gates, pedaling, sliding, riding or carrying your bike, depending on the conditions.

The four-speed automatic also has "power" and "normal" settings, which changes the shift points, and there is a button to turn the traction control off if you have a giddy urge to spin your wheels.

The world of fitness abounds with fables, from no pain, no gain, to drinking water before exercising can give you cramps, and falling for one could have you spinning your wheels and getting nowhere instead of shaping up.

The ability to craft your own class to go along with your playing style wasn't new, but the continual rewards for playing online (new weapons and upgrades) meant that you could play for thirty minutes and feel like you were closer to a goal, not just spinning your wheels.