off the track

1. Away from one's objective, train of thought, or a sequence of events, It is often put as, as in Your question has gotten me off the track, or The interruption threw Mom off the track and she forgot what she'd already put into the stew. This term comes from railroading, where it means “derailed.” Its figurative use was first recorded in 1875.

Example Sentences

Hamilton came back at him on the run to Turn Four, but Verstappen, on the inside, braked late and Hamilton ran off the track, himself cutting the corner at Turn Five.

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The crash brought out the safety car for five laps and after the restart Verstappen was tracked by Russell, who made a bold move into Turn 12 on lap seven, a late dive that ended up with both going off the track.

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The semi-truck was knocked sideways off the track and spilled about 3,600 gallons of diesel fuel, Safechuck said.

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Kawano was able to complete the race and receive the adoration of his home support on his closing lap of the track, but there was concern for the 26-year-old after he collapsed to the ground upon crossing the finish line and had to be assisted off the track in a wheelchair.

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Any one of our top four runners — senior Colin Sahlman, who had a laid-back surfer personality and an explosive closing kick; his younger brother Aaron, a junior with huge potential but inconsistent; and twin juniors Lex and Leo Young, the younger brothers of a national champion, who had become stars on and off the track because of their speed and social media presence — could have been the best runner on any other team in the country.

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