いたちごっこ

Etymology
Of. The game is attested from the early 19th century, with the figurative use from the 1870s. The figurative sense likely derives from the fact that the game involves repeating the same action, with no set end.

Noun

 * 1)  doing the same thing again and again with no progress
 * 1)  doing the same thing again and again with no progress
 * 1)  doing the same thing again and again with no progress

Usage notes
The children’s game involves a group of children facing each other and chanting 「いたちごっこ、ねずみごっこ」 (“play the weasel, play the mouse”). One child pinches the hand of another, who in turn pinches another child’s hand, and so on.