side trip

American

noun

a brief excursion off the main route of an itinerary, as to visit a particular person or place.

Other Word Forms

side tripper noun

Etymology

Origin of side trip

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A little side trip here to Walter Cronkite, whose name is being mentioned a lot.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

At one burn, Hanson proposed that we make a side trip and wade through the brush up on a steep canyon wall where, he assured me, we would find even more saplings just breaking through.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2025

After their side trip to the Ruki, the scientists are now studying other tributaries of the Congo, such as the Kasaï and the Fimi River -- and completing the carbon puzzle piece by piece.

From Science Daily • Oct. 18, 2023

But this side trip reminds him and us that no matter what disasters befall us, life can be good again.

From Salon • Sep. 10, 2023

Once in a while you may need a brief side trip, a gentle interruption to tuck information into a sentence or between sentences.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023