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 ruts of a previous cart'. Used when someone repeats a failure or error that has already been made, often with a nuance of avoidable repetition.

• 先せん輩ぱいの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の轍てつを踏ふむことだけは避さけたい。

  I want to avoid at least repeating past failures.