Going around in circles — discussions or arguments that repeatedly return to the same points without reaching a conclusion.
会議は議題の細かい点で堂々巡りになってしまった。
The meeting ended up going around in circles over minor points on the agenda.
同じ問題の堂々巡りを避けるために、期限を設定した。
To avoid going around in circles on the same issue, we set a deadline.
議論が堂々巡りしている間に、時間だけが過ぎていった。
While the discussion went in circles, only time passed by.
Literally circling a temple or hall; used for religious pilgrimages or ritual circumambulation.
参拝者は本堂の周りを静かに堂々巡りした。
The worshippers quietly circumambulated around the main hall.
In some procedural or parliamentary contexts, it can refer to a roll-call or a certain round of voting (a technical/contextspecific usage).
議会では採決方法をめぐって堂々巡りの論争が続いた。
In the Diet, debates over the voting procedure continued in circles.