前ぜん轍てつを踏ふむ

expression, godan verb (-mu)

repeat someone's mistake; make the same mistake as one's predecessor

Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'to step in the previous cart's rut'. Used when someone repeats a failure or error that has already been made by others, often with a cautionary tone.

See also: 轍を踏む

• 先せん輩ぱいの前ぜん轍てつを踏ふまないように、よく計けい画かくを練ねった。

  I carefully devised a plan so as not to repeat my senior's mistake.

• 過か去この失しっ敗ぱいを研けん究きゅうし、前ぜん轍てつを踏ふむことなくプロジェクトを進すすめたい。

  I want to study past failures and move the project forward without repeating the same mistakes.