verb
derail
duh-RAY-uhl
verb
1
To come off, or cause something to come off, its railway tracks.
"The freight train derailed just outside the station."
2
To disrupt or throw a plan, process, or conversation off course.
"One awkward question derailed the entire interview."
"Bad publicity threatened to derail the merger."
How to Use Derail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally, to leave the tracks; figuratively, to knock a plan or discussion off course.
Common pairings
derail talks
derail a plan
derail the conversation
Word Forms
derailed past tense, derails plural, derails singular
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The freight train _____ just outside the station.
Etymology
From French derailler, "to go off the rails," from de- + rail.