空回り， からまわり
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
tbd
エンジンを空回りさせちゃいかん。長持ちさせたいからね。
tbd
Don't let the engine run idle. We want it to last longer.
Don't race the car. We want to make it go as far as possible.
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彼女って、一生懸命なんだけど、どこか空回りしてるのよね。
tbd
She tries so hard, but she's just spinning her wheels.
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議論が空回りして一向に発展しなかった。
tbd
The discussion produced a great deal of noise, but no forward motion.
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違反のスピードを出して、突っ走っていた車がブレーキをかけたが、空回りして、運転手があっというまもなく、トラックの背後に、もろにぶつかった。
tbd
The speeding vehicle skidded and crashed head-on into the rear-end of a truck before the driver could say Jack Robinson.
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