Possible Clues:

• We dart and tear around, but don't make any progress
• Fail to make progress in the current environment?
• Remain upright, in the pool
• Get nowhere, being wet?
• Float, in a way
• Fail to progress, being unwilling to go with the flow?
• Heartless type in trade war struggling to stand still
• Hold back and study wife cutting potato
• Stay afloat in place
• Notice wife going into retreat — somehow fail to make progress