sidetracked: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to neutral
Quick answer
What does “sidetracked” mean?
To be diverted from the main subject, task, or purpose.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To be diverted from the main subject, task, or purpose.
To be distracted or led away from what one was originally doing or intending to do, often by something less important.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both use the term identically.
Connotations
Slightly more common in American business/casual contexts, but well-established in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “sidetracked” in a Sentence
get sidetrackedbe sidetracked by somethingsidetrack someoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sidetracked” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The committee chair sidetracked the discussion onto a trivial point.
- Don't let him sidetrack you with his complaints.
American English
- The manager sidetracked the project with endless revisions.
- She sidetracked the conversation to talk about her vacation.
adverb
British English
- He worked sidetrackedly, jumping from task to task.
- The team proceeded sidetrackedly after the confusing email.
American English
- She answered sidetrackedly, clearly thinking about something else.
- The project moved forward sidetrackedly due to poor leadership.
adjective
British English
- He's a very sidetracked individual, never finishing what he starts.
- We had a completely sidetracked meeting today.
American English
- I feel so sidetracked with all these notifications.
- It was a sidetracked effort that produced no results.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In meetings, we must avoid getting sidetracked by minor issues.
Academic
The researcher was careful not to be sidetracked by interesting but irrelevant data.
Everyday
I went to buy milk but got sidetracked by the bakery section.
Technical
The debugging session was sidetracked by a network configuration error.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sidetracked”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sidetracked”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sidetracked”
- Using 'distracted' when the cause is an alternative task (sidetracked is better).
- Misspelling as 'sidetracted'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly, as it implies deviation from an intended goal. However, sometimes being sidetracked can lead to a pleasant surprise or useful discovery, though the word itself still marks the deviation.
'Distracted' is broader; something pulls your attention away. 'Sidetracked' is more specific; you start following a different, often related, path or task instead of the original one. A noise distracts you. An interesting article on your research topic sidetracks you.
Yes. E.g., 'The tricky question sidetracked the speaker.' or 'He sidetracked the conversation.'
It comes from railroading (late 19th century). A 'sidetrack' is a secondary railway track where a train can be shunted to allow another to pass. The figurative use developed from this.
To be diverted from the main subject, task, or purpose.
Sidetracked is usually informal to neutral in register.
Sidetracked: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪd.trækt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪd.trækt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Go down a rabbit hole”
- “Lose the thread”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a train (your focus) being switched to a SIDE TRACK instead of staying on the main line to its destination.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOCUS IS A PATH/JOURNEY (being diverted from the main path).
Practice
Quiz
Which situation best illustrates being 'sidetracked'?