Fly/go off at a tangent In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "fly/go off at a tangent", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

author Zesty Y calendar 2021-12-08 11:12

Meaning of Fly/go off at a tangent

Synonyms:

go (off) on a tangent

Fly/go off at a tangent phrase

A tangent is a straight line that touches the outside of a curve but does not cross it.

To suddenly move away from the main topic you are addressing or discussing and to think or talk about something else.

 

When the lecturer was talking about maths, he went off at a tangent and narrated his adventures in Africa.

So far, he has gone off at a tangent two times in this speech. If he does it one more time, I will quit.

Grammar and Usage of Fly/go off at a tangent

Verb Forms

  • flying/going off at a tangent
  • flew/went off at a tangent
  • flown/gone off at a tangent

The verb "go/fly" must be conjugated according to its tense.
 

Origin of Fly/go off at a tangent

This phrase dates from the second half of 1700s.

The Origin Cited: Internet .
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TODAY
a drowning man will clutch at a straw
Someone who is experiencing a difficult situation will take any available opportunity to overcome the situation, even if those ways are not helpful
Example: Even when there was no positive sign showing that he could pass the test, he tried his best because a drowning man will clutch at a straw.
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