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Guest Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary

Off track

Hi,

Could you tell me the difference between 'to go off track' and 'to go off the track"?
When do we use each of them?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

The main difference between these two is that one is used in a figuartive way and the other is a literal use of the phrase. "to go off track" is a figurative way to say that something/someone is not doing something correctly or is going down the wrong "path" in any aspect. "to go off the track" is mainly used to describe some sort of derailment normally associated with trains.

— J7

  • The main difference between these two is that one is used in a figuartive way and the other is a literal use of the phrase.
  • "to go off track" is a figurative way to say that something/someone is not doing something correctly or is going down the wrong "path" in any aspect.
  • "to go off the track" is mainly used to describe some sort of derailment normally associated with trains.
  • " It is basically a synonym for the verb "to derail".
  • "The track" implies that the track is already specified.
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4 Answers
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The main difference between these two is that one is used in a figuartive way and the other is a literal use of the phrase.

"to go off track" is a figurative way to say that something/someone is not doing something correctly or is going down the wrong "path" in any aspect.

"to go off the track" is mainly used to describe some sort of derailment normally associated with trains.
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Hello!
I think the tracks can also be those of a record, or CD, thus what has been recorded.
So, when you make a comment that is "off the tack", it means that it shouldn't be recorded, for example during an interview.
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When you go off track it is a metaphor to show that you are moving away from the original subject/topic. If a group of people are meeting to discuss what colour the car park sign should be and end up arguing over where they will all park, that meeting has gone off track/they are off track.

To go off the tracks is a phrase that means someone has started behaving wrongly - and it is most
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hello everybody,

It was me who started this thread as a guest. It took me some time to register but eventually I managed to do it.

I would like to thank you for your explanations. I'm happy with the explanation of 'to go off track' as a metaphor. The difference explained by j7 is clear and logical.

However, I still have some doubts as I'm not sure how to explain the
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