sidetracked
Went off course
Sidetracked means diverted from a main course or purpose.
A project gets sidetracked by unexpected problems.
A person gets sidetracked when something pulls their attention away from what they intended to do: I meant to clean the garage but got sidetracked by old photo albums.
The image comes from trains switched onto a side track, away from the main line.
Mentally elsewhere, not present
- divertedTurned from original path
- derailedThrown off course
- waylaidAttacked while traveling
- deflectedCaused to veer off
interrupted · disoriented · absorbed · engrossed · sidelined · detoured · rerouted · scattered
preoccupied
Mentally elsewhere, not present
deflected · interrupted · disoriented · absorbed · engrossed · sidelined · detoured · rerouted · scattered · unfocused
stalled
Stopped unexpectedly
- postponedMoved to a later date
- interruptedBroken mid-course
- pausedStopped temporarily
halted · suspended · detoured · waylaid · obstructed · blocked · impeded · derailed · slowed · hindered
off-course
Deviating from intended path
strayed · wandered · misdirected · detoured · rerouted · deflected · wayward · errant · lost · adrift
- inattentionspacing, absent-minded, distraction, obliviousness, unfocused
- Off Tracklost, detour, tangent, digression, veer
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- sidelinedbenched, shelved, put on hold, on hold, relegated
- train termsall aboard, engine, departure time, arrival time, passenger car
- Attention phrasespay attention, heads up, watch out, look out, keep an eye on
sidetrackedfocused
Directing attention narrowly
on track · concentrated · single-minded · attentive · undistracted
sidetrackedon course
Following intended path
on track · on target · on schedule · advancing · progressing