SIDETRACK • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Sidetrack

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verb

Sidetrack v. t. (past & past part. sidetracked; pres. part. sidetracking)

(Railroads) To transfer to a siding from a main line of track.

Hence, fig., to divert or reduce to a position or condition that is relatively secondary or subordinate in activity, importance, effectiveness, or the like; to switch off; to turn aside, as from a purpose. (Colloq.) "Such a project was, in fact, sidetracked in favor of the census of school children."

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Etymology of 'Sidetrack'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Sidetrack" Quotes from Famous Books

... wear. intervert[obs3]; deflect; divert, divert from its course; put on a new scent, shift, shunt, draw aside, crook, warp. stray, straggle; sidle; diverge &c. 291; tralineate|; digress, wander; wind, twist, meander; veer, tack; divagate; sidetrack; turn aside, turn a corner, turn away from; wheel, steer clear of; ramble, rove, drift; go astray, go adrift; yaw, dodge; step aside, ease off, make way for, shy. fly off at a tangent; glance off; wheel about, face about; turn to the right about, ...

— Roget's Thesaurus

... his life twenty years ahead. Already Sheriff's Attorney, Assistant District Attorney and Railroad Commissioner, he could, if he desired, attain the office of District Attorney itself. Just now, it was a question with him whether or not it would be politic to fill this office. Would it advance or sidetrack him in the career he had outlined for himself? Lyman wanted to be something better than District Attorney, better than Mayor, than State Senator, or even than member of the United States Congress. ...

— The Octopus • Frank Norris

Words linked to "Sidetrack" : digress, siding, depart, railroad siding, straggle, railroad track, turnout, railway