1.
A well-trodden path is used regularly by a large number of people, and therefore looks worn and is easy to see.
He made his way along a well-trodden path towards the shed.
ADJ : usu ADJ n
2.
You can use well-trodden , especially in expressions such as a well-trodden path and well-trodden ground , to indicate that a plan or course of action has been tried by a lot of people and so the result of it is easy to predict.
Political power has long been a well-trodden path to personal wealth...
These working parties will be going over well-trodden ground.
ADJ : usu ADJ n