sidetrack

American  

[sahyd-trak] / ˈsaɪdˌtræk /

verb (used with or without object)

sidetracks, present (3rd person singular) sidetracked, past participle, past sidetracking present participle

1. to move or distract from the main subject or course.

2. to move from the main track to a siding, as a train.

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noun

sidetracks plural

1. any railroad track, other than a siding, that is auxiliary to the main track.

2. a path, position, project, topic, etc., of less importance than the main one.

   On a sidetrack to this thread on workplace safety, let me just say a little about office footwear.

sidetrack British  

/ ˈsaɪdˌtræk /

verb

1. to distract or be distracted from a main subject or topic

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noun

1. a railway siding

2. the act or an instance of sidetracking; digression

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sidetracks
  plural

Participles

• sidetracking
  present
• sidetracked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• sidetrack
  simple
• sidetracks
  simple
• have sidetracked
  perfect
• has sidetracked
  perfect
• am sidetracking
  progressive
• are sidetracking
  progressive
• is sidetracking
  progressive
• have been sidetracking
  perfect progressive
• has been sidetracking
  perfect progressive

Past

• sidetracked
  simple
• had sidetracked
  perfect
• was sidetracking
  progressive
• were sidetracking
  progressive
• had been sidetracking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will sidetrack
  simple
• will have sidetracked
  perfect
• will be sidetracking
  progressive
• will have been sidetracking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of sidetrack

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; side ¹ + track

Explanation

To sidetrack is to veer off a straight path, or to cause something (or someone) to do so. The smell of a rabbit in the woods might sidetrack your dog from coming when you call him. In addition to literally wandering off course, sidetrack can also be used figuratively, when someone gets distracted from a task or focus, like when your text messages sidetrack you from finishing your homework. You can sidetrack a conversation, too, by controlling it and steering it in a new direction: "She always sidetracks the conversation so we end up talking about television."

Example Sentences

When Devi tries to sidetrack Dr. Ryan, she pivots the conversation.

From Salon • Jun. 19, 2023

At least one powerful general tried to sidetrack it, Mr. Hammond told the Boston Globe in 1989, but he declined to name him.

From Washington Post • Dec. 7, 2022

Georgieva told a conference in Washington that policymakers should adopt targeted measures to alleviate rising food and fuel prices, while avoiding steps that could fuel inflation or sidetrack monetary policy.

From Reuters • Nov. 10, 2022

Then again, he probably didn’t imagine a pandemic would sidetrack a season where he was supposed to pitch in big leagues.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 11, 2020

And Nick didn’t try to sidetrack Mrs. G. again.

From "Frindle" by Andrew Clements