Derail: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is often used in both literal and metaphorical contexts to describe something that has been thrown off its intended course. It can refer to a train going off the tracks or a project that has encountered unexpected problems.

• The accident caused the train to derail, injuring several passengers.
• The sudden change in priorities might derail our plans for the quarter.

Primarily used to describe the event or instance when a train goes off its tracks. It can also be applied metaphorically to describe a significant disruption.

• The derailment caused delays in the train service for hours.
• The meeting's derailment was caused by unanticipated questions from the board.

This phrase is more informal and is often used in a critical or negative manner to describe behavior or situations that have become wild, uncontrollable, or chaotic.

• After losing his job, he went off the rails.
• Their plans for the event went off the rails when the main speaker canceled.

Suitable for a more neutral to mildly negative situation where someone or something has deviated from its intended path. It is less dramatic than 'off the rails' and often suggests the possibility of getting back on track.

• Our discussion went off track when we started talking about unrelated issues.
• The project is off track due to unexpected delays, but we can still meet the deadline if we act quickly.