window-shopping without money; going out and returning empty-handed
Idiomatic expression evoking the image of a dog walking along a riverbank, finding nothing to eat. Used for an outing where one ends up buying or eating nothing, often due to lack of money.
I forgot my wallet and ended up just walking around without buying anything.
給料日前はいつも犬の川端歩きだ。
Right before payday, I always go out and come back empty-handed.
Literally 'a dog's walk on the riverbank', from the image of a dog strolling along a riverbank and finding nothing to eat. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a set phrase in modern Japanese.