Go round in circles

Rob:	Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Rob ...
Feifei:	... and me Feifei. Thanks for offering to drive me to the airport Rob.
Rob:	No problem. It takes forever on the bus, so I thought I would save you some time.
Feifei:	Thanks, but do you actually know the way to the airport?
Rob:	Yes of course, why are you asking?
Feifei:	It's just we seem to be going round and round this roundabout. Rob, shouldn't you take that turning there?
Rob:	No! That's where we just came from. Maybe it's this one ... no, that can't be right.
Feifei:	Rob! We're going round in circles!
Rob:	Hmmm ...
Feifei:	We aren't getting anywhere! Come on Rob, I'm going to miss my flight.
Rob:	Well done Feifei, you've just explained today's phrase—'go round in circles'—although it's nothing to do with driving. If you do something for a long time without achieving any results and you always come back to the same problem, then you can describe the situation as 'going round in circles'.
Feifei:	OK, so it really means you don't make any progress?
Rob:	Yes that's right. Let's hear some examples while I decide which turning to take:

The politicians talked for hours but they couldn't come to an agreement; they were just going round in circles.

I've been going round in circles trying to find the right person to talk to about getting a refund on my ticket but with no success. I give up!

Because we didn't have the data from the survey, we went round in circles discussing the same old problems.

Feifei: So 'going round in circles' means not getting anywhere—and Rob, we're not getting anywhere today—and I need to get to the airport.

Rob: OK, don't panic. It's definitely ... errr ... this way.

Feifei: Careful!

Rob: Now you see, we're not going round in circles. We're going in the right direction ... we're on the right road ... we're making progress.

Feifei: At last we're making progress! No more going round in circles.

Rob: Oh no ... hold on ...

Feifei: What is it Rob?

Rob: Another roundabout! Which way now?

Feifei: Hmm, take my advice: if you don't want to go round in circles, get organised: take the bus!

Rob: Sorry Feifei. There's another flight tomorrow.

Both: Bye.

Rob:	OK, don't panic. It's definitely ... errr ... this way.
Feifei:	Careful!
Rob:	Now you see, we're not going round in circles. We're going in the right direction ... we're on the right road ... we're making progress.
Feifei:	At last we're making progress! No more going round in circles.
Rob:	Oh no ... hold on ...
Feifei:	What is it Rob?
Rob:	Another roundabout! Which way now?
Feifei:	Hmm, take my advice: if you don't want to go round in circles, get organised: take the bus!
Rob:	Sorry Feifei. There's another flight tomorrow.
Both:	Bye.