off track

off track — idiom

1. failing to make progress as expected, so that a plan, project, or goal is at ris

1.慣用語B2
釋義

failing to make progress as expected, so that a plan, project, or goal is at risk of going badly wrong

例句

Jin's studies went off track after his father fell ill that winter.

collocation: go off track — used when plans or progress start to fail

The building project got off track when the money ran out halfway through.

同義詞
  • off course

    suggests a more gradual drift away from a plan; originally a sailing term

  • derailed

    more dramatic — implies a plan has been stopped completely, not just slowed

  • sidetracked

    implies a temporary distraction; you can get sidetracked for a few minutes but still finish on time

反義詞

文法句型

go + off track

get + off track

be + off track

throw + object + off track

用法筆記

Often used about projects, careers, study plans, or personal goals. The image is of a train or vehicle leaving the rails or path it was meant to follow.

常見錯誤

❌After losing his job, he went off track and started drinking heavily.
✅After losing his job, he went off the rails and started drinking heavily.
💡'off track' is about plans or progress failing; 'off the rails' is about losing control of your behaviour or mental state.

2. moving away from the main subject of a conversation, discussion, or presentation

2.慣用語B2
釋義

moving away from the main subject of a conversation, discussion, or presentation

例句

Heather's presentation went off track when someone asked about her holiday.

collocation: go off track — leaving the main topic of a talk or discussion

Ziad got off track and started telling stories about his childhood instead.

同義詞
  • off topic

    more often used about writing or formal contexts; 'off track' is more conversational

  • sidetracked

    emphasises being pulled away by something else, rather than simply wandering

反義詞

文法句型

go + off track

get + off track

be + off track

用法筆記

Used when a speaker or a whole conversation drifts away from the intended subject. A speaker who realises they have wandered can say 'I'm getting off track' to correct themselves.

常見錯誤

❌Your essay is off track from the question.
✅Your essay is off topic.
💡'off track' is mainly for spoken conversation; for writing, 'off topic' sounds more natural.

3. not on the racing circuit or surface where a competition is taking place; locate

3.慣用語B1
釋義

not on the racing circuit or surface where a competition is taking place; located away from the track

例句

The horse was led off track after the injury, while the others continued racing.

literal use: off track describing a position away from a racing circuit

Caio's car spun off track during the final lap and hit the barrier.

同義詞
反義詞
  • on track

    physically on the racing surface

文法句型

go + off track

spin + off track

be + off track

wait + off track

用法筆記

The literal racing sense. Unlike the metaphorical meanings (senses 1 and 2), this describes a physical location relative to a racecourse.