tourner à vide

• IPA^(key): /tuʁ.ne a vid/

• Audio:

  (file)

tourner à vide

1. (of an engine) to tick over, to idle, to run idle
2. (figuratively) to spin one's wheels, to go round in circles, to go nowhere

   J’ai le cerveau qui tourne à vide. ― My brain is going round in circles.