derail

Everyday

1. When a train derails, its wheels come off the rails. tree →
2. To derail a plan or a conversation is to stop it going the way it should. tree →

In the lessons

In safety lessons, never put things on railway lines — they can derail a train. In stories, a derailed train is a disaster or adventure. In everyday life, a plan can be derailed by bad weather or an argument. Phrases: «the train derailed», «derail a plan», «get derailed».

Examples

• The train derailed after heavy snow blocked the line. tree →
• Never put stones on the rails; they could derail a train. tree →
• The storm derailed our plans for the picnic. tree →
• Don't let one bad mark derail your hard work. tree →
• The talk was derailed by silly jokes. tree →
• Workers checked the track after the train was derailed. tree →
• A fallen tree almost derailed the goods train. tree →

Note

«De-» means off or away: de-rail = off the rails. Noun: «derailment». Safety: railway lines are dangerous; never play on or near them. Not a number word.