What Does "Fly off at a Tangent" Mean?
"Fly off at a tangent" is an English idiom. It means "to suddenly start doing, saying, or focusing on something entirely different."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "fly off at a tangent" used in a sentence:- Our discussion about budget projections suddenly flew off at a tangent into a debate about office decor.
- He has a tendency to fly off at a tangent during our meetings.
- We need to stay focused and not fly off at a tangent.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Fly off at a Tangent" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
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