[{"word":"sidetrack","phonetics":[],"meanings":[{"partOfSpeech":"noun","definitions":[{"definition":"A second, relatively short length of track just to the side of a railroad track, joined to the main track by switches at one or both ends, used either for unloading freight, or to allow two trains on a same track to meet (opposite directions) or pass (same direction); a railroad siding.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"(sometimes) Any auxiliary railroad track, as differentiated from a siding, that runs adjacent to the main track.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"A smaller tunnel or well drilled as an auxiliary off a main tunnel or well.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"An alternate train of thought, issue, topic, or activity, that is a deviation or distraction from the topic at hand or central activity, and secondary or subordinate in importance or effectiveness.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[],"example":"Stay focused on the story; you keep getting lost in all of these little sidetracks."}],"synonyms":["lay-by","railroad siding","siding"],"antonyms":[]},{"partOfSpeech":"verb","definitions":[{"definition":"To divert (a locomotive or train) on to a lesser used track in order to allow other trains to pass.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[]},{"definition":"To divert or distract (someone) from a main issue or course of action with an alternate or less relevant topic or activity; or, to use deliberate trickery or sly wordplay when talking to (a person) in order to avoid discussion of a subject.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[],"example":"I hope you can sidetrack the teacher with questions so we don't have to take the exam."},{"definition":"To sideline; to push aside; to divert or distract from, reducing (something) to a secondary or subordinate position.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[],"example":"He has sidetracked this debate for far too long."},{"definition":"To deviate briefly from the topic at hand.","synonyms":[],"antonyms":[],"example":"Just to sidetrack a little bit from the subject I will explain my reasoning."}],"synonyms":["digress"],"antonyms":[]}],"license":{"name":"CC BY-SA 3.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0"},"sourceUrls":["https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sidetrack"]}]