sidetrack

American  

[sahyd-trak] / ˈsaɪdˌtræk /

verb (used with or without object)

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

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

Etymology

Origin of sidetrack

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

Example Sentences

The appellate judges, sidetracked by the AI issue, never touched on that.

From Los Angeles Times

But Ravichandran sees a chance that satellite companies get sidetracked and develop products aimed at deep-pocketed defense customers at the expense of other opportunities.

From The Wall Street Journal

My promise to Grandpa about being ready and waiting for our trip to town got sidetracked during the night.

From Literature

The U.S. economy got sidetracked in February by tariff-related price increases, sluggish sales and the previous month’s Winter Storm Fern, but top executives were also more optimistic that business will improve later in the year.

From MarketWatch

Ellis says this narrative plays out in the film - Folarin works so much that he becomes "neglectful and sidetracked".

From BBC