side issue
Not the point
A side issue is a matter related to but not central to the main topic under discussion.
It often arises as a distraction from what actually needs to be decided: Let's not get bogged down in side issues.
Something dismissed as a side issue may nonetheless matter to those raising it.
- asideBrief theatrical digression
- ancillaryProviding additional support
- minor pointInsignificant aspect of discussion
- detourAlternate path around obstruction
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
tangent · incidental · afterthought · footnote · adjunct · secondary · extraneous · off topic · rabbit hole · peripheral · marginalia · digression · sidelight · deflection · storm in a teacup · minutiae · irrelevance · neither here nor there
- distractionsdistraction, digression, tangent, diversion, detour
- triflestrifle, trivia, bagatelle, minutiae, nothing
centrality/importance
side issuecrux
Most important point
heart of the matter · main point · key issue · focal point · primary concern