to paw (at) the ground
to struggle (using one's arms and legs); to flounder; to flail about
to struggle (to escape an adverse situation); to strive; to make every effort
借金地獄の中であがき続けた。
I kept struggling in a hell of debt.
溺れた子犬が必死にあがいている。
The drowning puppy is desperately floundering.
あがいても状況は変わらない。
No matter how you struggle, the situation won't change.