1. Home
2. Idioms
3. go off on a tangent

go off on a tangent

---

---

go off on a tangent

Fig. to pursue a somewhat related or irrelevant course while neglecting the main subject. Don't go off on a tangent. Stick to your job. Just as we started talking, Henry went off on a tangent about the high cost of living.

See also: off, on, tangent

go off on a tangent

  (British, American & Australian) also go off at a tangent (British)

to suddenly start talking about a different subject We were talking about property prices and you went off on a tangent.

See also: off, on, tangent