verb wander from a direct or straight course.
— synonyms: depart, digress, straggle
noun a short stretch of railroad track used to store rolling stock or enable trains on the same line to pass.
— synonyms: siding, railroad_siding, turnout
Examples
“Stay focused on the story; you keep getting lost in all of these little sidetracks.”
“I hope you can sidetrack the teacher with questions so we don't have to take the exam.”
“He has sidetracked this debate for far too long.”