ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fly off at a tangent

idiom
Meaning

To digress from a topic.


Examples
SIMPLE

Please stay on topic and do not fly off at a tangent.

CONTEXTUAL

The professor often flies off at a tangent during his lectures, leaving the students confused about the main lesson.

COMPLEX

During the heated board meeting, the director repeatedly flew off at a tangent, effectively stalling any progress on the critical budget proposal.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    fly blind

    To do by guesswork; to feel one's way.

  2. 02

    fly by

    To pass or go past quickly, often without much interaction

  3. 03

    fly by the seat of one's pants

    To pilot an aircraft without the aid of instruments and without a flight plan, using only instinct, visual observation, and practical judgment.

  4. 04

    fly in the face of

    To act in a manner highly contrary to; to counteract or contradict.

  5. 05

    fly in the ointment

    Something (especially a minor thing) which ruins or spoils everything else, or makes it less pleasant; a nuisance or problem; a disagreeable or unpleasant detail.

  6. 06

    fly low

    To have one's fly (zipper) undone.

  7. 07

    fly off

    To flee rapidly; to run away.

  8. 08

    fly off the handle

    To become very angry or enraged; to throw a fit or go crazy.

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