空回り
Meanings
Noun
Suru verb
Intransitive verb
1. racing (of an engine); idling; spinning (without grabbing; of wheels)
2. going round in circles (of an argument, discussion, etc.); going nowhere; being fruitless
Kanji used
Pitch accent
からまわり
Composed of
空
emptiness; being empty; not carrying anything; unburdened; empty-handed; dishonoured (bill, promise, etc.); false; no-show (reservation); put-on (cheeriness, courage, etc.); empty (compliments); …
Noun
回り
rotation; making the rounds; spreading; effect; efficacy; by way of; via; round; turn; size; …
Noun
Examples4
エンジン
Don't race the car. We want to make it go as far as possible.
彼女って、
She tries so hard, but she's just spinning her wheels.
議論
The discussion produced a great deal of noise, but no forward motion.
違反
The speeding vehicle skidded and crashed head-on into the rear-end of a truck before the driver could say Jack Robinson.