Derailment

Definitions

1. The action of a locomotive or train leaving the rails along which it runs.
   countable, uncountable
2. An instance of diverting a conversation or debate from its original topic.
   countable, uncountable
3. An instance of thwarting or frustrating something.
   countable, uncountable
4. A pattern of discourse (in speech or writing) that is a sequence of unrelated or only remotely related ideas.
   countable, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“The length ganger saw⟳ the train⟳ passing with the van derailed and promptly telephoned the Sandbach signalman, who restored his signals to danger, but not in time to stop⟳ the train⟳ before the final derailment occurred.”

“In retrospect, it was small wonder⟳ that Railtrack found its finances under pressure, as with ever increasing demand⟳ there was an inevitable effect on infrastructure renewals. Matters came to a head with the Hatfield accident on October 17 2000, when there was a high-speed derailment as a result⟳ of deferred track maintenance.”

“But when the second stage⟳ set⟳ in, in which man became preponderantly self-conscious, he inevitably set⟳ about deflecting sex-activities to his own⟳ private pleasure and advantage; he employed his budding intellect in scheming the derailment of passion and desire from tribal needs and, Nature's uses to the poor details of his own⟳ gratification.”

CEFR level