1.
a wasted trip; a futile errand; going somewhere in vain
The act of going somewhere only to find that the trip was pointless — the person was out, the shop was closed, the item was sold out, etc.
無駄足だった。
It was a wasted trip.
店が休みで無駄足を踏んだ。
The shop was closed and I made the trip for nothing.
事前に電話で確認しておけば、無駄足を踏まずに済んだのに。
If I had called ahead to check, I could have avoided the wasted trip.
USAGE:
A compound of 無駄 (waste) and 足 (foot/trip). The set phrase 無駄足を踏む means 'to make a wasted trip.' Often used when expressing frustration after going somewhere only to find it was pointless.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 無駄足を踏む (to make a wasted trip)
- 無駄足になる (to turn out to be a wasted trip)
- 無駄足を踏ませる (to send someone on a wild goose chase)