How to Say "to sidetrack" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “to sidetrack” is “desviar” — B2 level.
Examples
El político intentó desviar la atención de los periodistas.
The politician tried to deflect the journalists' attention.
No intentes desviar el tema de la conversación.
Don't try to sidetrack the topic of the conversation.
El portero desvió el balón con la punta de los dedos.
The goalkeeper deflected the ball with his fingertips.
Using 'se' to talk about yourself
When you want to say someone 'got off track' or 'strayed,' you add 'se' to the end: 'desviarse'. This makes it about the person moving themselves rather than moving an object.
Don't confuse with 'evitar'
Mistake: “Desvié el problema.”
Correction: Evité el problema. (Use 'desviar' if you are changing the path of something that is already coming at you, like a ball or a question. Use 'evitar' to avoid the situation entirely.)
Related Translations
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