sidetrackverb [ T usually passive ]
uk/ˈsaɪd.træk/us/ˈsaɪd.træk/to direct a person's attention away from an activity or subject towards another one that is less important:
Ruth was looking for an envelope in a drawer when she was sidetracked by some old letters.
The students sidetracked their teacher into talking about her hobby.
I'm sorry I'm late - I got sidetracked.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Creating a distraction
- distract
- distraction
- diversion
- divert
- escape
- mind
- put
- put sb off (sth)
- put sb off their stride idiom
- put sb off their stride/stroke idiom
- smoke and mirrors
- stride
- subject
- take
- take sb out of himself/herself
- take sb's mind off sth idiom
sidetrack
noun [ C ] ukus