What is the origin of the idiom "make a go of something" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "tread water" goes back to the practice of swimming, where treading water is a technique used to keep oneself afloat while staying in one place. Today, the idiom is commonly used in a figurative sense, to describe a situation where someone is maintaining their current situation, but not making any progress or moving forward. It can also imply a sense of stagnation or a lack of direction, where someone is not making progress toward their goals or objectives. The idiom implies that someone is staying afloat, but not making any real progress or moving forward.