(off) on a tangent Thành ngữ, tục ngữ
(off) on a tangentAddressing a topic or topics not relevant to the main discussion. I tried to address the customer's problem, but she kept going off on a tangent and I couldn't understand what her true complaint was. In the middle of our conversation about my finances, my advisor went on a tangent about current events.See also: on, tangenton a tangentOn a sudden digression or change of course, as in The professor's hard to follow; he's always off on a tangent. This phrase often occurs in the idioms fly off or go off on a tangent , as in The witness was convincing until he went off on a tangent. This expression alludes to the geometric tangent-a line or curve that touches but does not intersect with another line or curve. [Second half of 1700s] See also: on, tangentSee also:- on a tangent
- tangent
- go (off) on a tangent
- go off at a tangent
- go off on a tangent
- sidetrack
- (off) on a sidetrack
- off on a sidetrack
- fly off at a tangent
- go/fly off at a tangent
|
