The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word TRIPPING
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "making a short journey" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case making a short journey = tripping.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TRIPPING mean?
TRIPPING verb- To fall over or stumble over an object as a result of striking it with one's foot
- (sometimes followed by "up") to cause (a person or animal) to fall or stumble by knocking their feet from under them
- To be guilty of a misstep or mistake; to commit an offence against morality, propriety, etc
- To detect in a misstep; to catch; to convict
- To activate or set in motion, as in the activation of a trap, explosive, or switch
- To be activated, as by a signal or an event
- To experience a state of reverie or to hallucinate, due to consuming psychoactive drugs
- To journey, to make a trip
- To move with light, quick steps; to walk or move lightly; to skip
- To raise (an anchor) from the bottom, by its cable or buoy rope, so that it hangs free
- To pull (a yard) into a perpendicular position for lowering it
- (most commonly used in the form tripping) to become unreasonably upset, especially over something unimportant; to cause a scene or a disruption
- The act of one who trips.
- Quick; nimble; stepping lightly and quickly.
- Having the right forefoot lifted, the others remaining on the ground, as if trotting; trippant.
- Undergoing a hallucinogenic trip.
- Saying crazy things.