off-topic
Beside the point
Off-topic describes remarks or content that stray from the subject at hand.
In forums and meetings alike, someone may be told their comment is off-topic: Let's save that for later—it's off-topic.
The phrase implies a recognized subject that participants should stick to.
To go off-topic is to digress.
Line touching curve once
- digressionVeering off topic
- derailmentLeaving the intended track
- irrelevantNot pertinent
- unrelatedHaving no link
sidetrack · distraction · diversion · wandering · straying · rambling · non-sequitur · aside
tangent
Line touching curve once
- digressionVeering off topic
- derailmentLeaving the intended track
- irrelevantNot pertinent
unrelated · sidetrack · distraction · diversion · wandering · straying · rambling · non-sequitur · aside · deviation
thesis
Academic argument requiring defense
focus · scope · prompt · rubric · grading · feedback · tangential · extraneous · padding · filler
warning
Alert about danger
violation · guidelines · thread · forum · comment · post · moderator · rules · redirect · reminder
- meeting problemsno decisions, interrupting, rambling, tangents, overrunning
- online forumsforums, forum, message board, message boards, discussion board
- digressionsdigression, tangent, aside, sidetrack, detour
- nonessentialunnecessary, unneeded, nonessential, inessential, dispensable