sidetracked
|side/tracked|
/ˈsaɪdˌtrækt/
(sidetrack)
divert from main path
Etymology
'sidetrack' originates from the combination of 'side' and 'track', where 'side' meant 'aside' and 'track' referred to a path or course.
'sidetrack' evolved from the literal meaning of diverting a train to a side track, eventually becoming a metaphor for being distracted.
Initially, it meant 'to divert a train to a side track', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to distract or divert attention'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'sidetrack'.
He got sidetracked by a phone call.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 1
distracted from the main subject or task.
She was sidetracked by the unexpected news.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41