go off on a tangent
Stray from topic
To go off on a tangent is to veer suddenly from the main topic into something loosely related or unrelated: We were discussing the budget, but she went off on a tangent about her vacation.
The phrase comes from geometry—a tangent line touches a circle at one point before heading in its own direction.
Often shortened to go on a tangent.
- digressStray from the topic
- wanderMove without fixed direction
- departLeave a place
- non sequiturIllogical conclusion or remark
- sidetrackDivert from purpose
stray · diverge · change the subject · lose the thread · where was I · ramble · free association · detour · rabbit hole · daydreaming · lateral thinking · swerve · overshare · veer · drift · derail · long story short · anecdote
go off on a tangentstay focused
Maintain mental concentration
stay the course · stay grounded · keep one's eye on the ball · stay in one's lane · toe the line
go off on a tangentget to the point
Speak directly now
cut to the chase · speak plainly · get down to brass tacks · wrap it up
go off on a tangentstay focused
Maintain mental concentration
get to the point · cut to the chase · stay the course · zero in · hone in
going, gone, tangent, tangents, tangential, tangentially, tangency