Portuguese to English Other Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

“Consegui terminar o segundo grau aos trancos e barrancos devido as competições demasiadas e sem um determinado calendário.” (Linguee)

“Aos trancos e barrancos aumenta o nível do mar.” https://cienciaeclima.com.br/trancos-barrancos-aumenta-nivel...

I’ve seen a couple of translations for this expression that don’t seem like good matches. Please consider these definitions before answering:

aos trancos e barrancos:
1 Com dificuldade, desajeitadamente.
2 Aos trambolhões (ver no verbete trambolhão).
aos trambolhões: Aos tombos, aos tropeços; de trambolhada
https://www.aulete.com.br/tranco

Anyway, here are the two translations that I’m avoiding:

- by leaps and bounds: with startingly rapid progress (Léxico.com)
- in fits and starts: intermittently or sporadically (Dictionary.com); with irregular bursts of activity (Léxico.com)

Can you think of a better match? Thank you.