1.
to trample down, to knock down by stepping on
To knock something or someone down by stepping on or trampling.
花壇の花を踏み倒してしまった。
I accidentally trampled down the flowers in the flower bed.
2.
to default on, to skip out on (payment)
To fail to pay a debt or bill, especially with no intention of paying. Often implies running away from the obligation.
借金を踏み倒して逃げた。
He skipped out on his debt and ran away.
飲食代を踏み倒す客がいる。
There are customers who skip out on their restaurant bills.
家賃を踏み倒されて困っている。
I'm in trouble because someone defaulted on rent payments.
COMPOUND VERB: 踏む (to step on) + 倒す (to knock down) = to step on and knock down
TRANSITIVITY: Transitive. Takes を to mark what is being trampled or the debt being defaulted.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 借金を踏み倒す (to default on a debt)
- 家賃を踏み倒す (to skip out on rent)
- 飲み代を踏み倒す (to dine and dash)
- ツケを踏み倒す (to skip out on a tab)
NUANCE: Sense 2 (defaulting on payment) is the more common usage in everyday conversation. It carries a strong negative connotation of dishonesty and irresponsibility.
RELATED ～倒す COMPOUND VERBS:
- 蹴り倒す - to kick down
- 殴り倒す - to knock down (with fists)
- 押し倒す - to push down