Derail
verb
To cause something to go off track, usually a train from the railroad tracks.
The severe storm caused the train to derail.
Often appears as...
- train derail
- derailment occurred
verb
To make a plan or an idea fail or be ruined.
Their attempts to derail the project were unsuccessful.
Often appears as...
- derail the plan
- derail negotiations
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To divert a situation from its intended, normal or natural course.
The student's protests were an attempt to derail the lesson.
Often appears as...
- derail the discussion
- derail the process
verb
To cause something to go off track, usually a train from the railroad tracks.
The severe storm caused the train to derail.
Often appears as...
- train derail
- derailment occurred
verb
To make a plan or an idea fail or be ruined.
Their attempts to derail the project were unsuccessful.
Often appears as...
- derail the plan
- derail negotiations
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To divert a situation from its intended, normal or natural course.
The student's protests were an attempt to derail the lesson.
Often appears as...
- derail the discussion
- derail the process
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Literal Usage
Used when something, usually a train, physically goes off its track.
Heavy snowfall made the cargo train derail near the mountain pass.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Events
Refers to accidents caused by unexpected events, not just weather.
A rockslide is another natural incident that could derail a train.
Pro Tip 3/3Emergency Response
Emphasizes the emergency action taken after an incident of this nature.
Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to help after the derailment.
Pro Tip 1/3Literal Usage
Used when something, usually a train, physically goes off its track.
Heavy snowfall made the cargo train derail near the mountain pass.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Events
Refers to accidents caused by unexpected events, not just weather.
A rockslide is another natural incident that could derail a train.
Pro Tip 3/3Emergency Response
Emphasizes the emergency action taken after an incident of this nature.
Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to help after the derailment.
Pro Tip 1/3Literal Usage
Used when something, usually a train, physically goes off its track.
Heavy snowfall made the cargo train derail near the mountain pass.
Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Events
Refers to accidents caused by unexpected events, not just weather.
A rockslide is another natural incident that could derail a train.
Pro Tip 3/3Emergency Response
Emphasizes the emergency action taken after an incident of this nature.
Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to help after the derailment.
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Video examples
Einstein's miracle year...
But skipping classes to spend more time in the lab and neglecting to show proper deference to his professors had derailed his intended career path. Passed over even for a lab assistant position, he had to settle for a job at the Swiss patent office, obtained with the help of a friend's father.
Video examples
Why can’t governments...
is considered a sign of economic health, but more can quickly derail an economy. In recent decades, central banks have tried an approach called quantitative easing to infuse the economy with cash while maintaining a low risk of severe inflation. In this approach,
Video examples
Parag Khanna maps the...
Well here is a fundamental problem we have not our basic political geography. How do we distribute ourselves around the world? Now this is important, because border conflicts justify so much of the world's military-industrial complex. Border conflicts can derail
Video examples
What are the most...
could have a truly transformative impact. Now the third area is the one that I want to focus on the most, and that's the category of existential events like a nuclear war or a global pandemic that could permanently derail civilization
Video examples
An ER doctor on triaging...
But I couldn't let it derail me. Because, you see, we all get nervous. We all get scared, but it's what you do next that matters. That first feeling isn't the problem. It can be an important sign.
Video examples
Yuval Noah Harari: The...
But that's still just two percent. This means that to save the environment, we don't need to completely derail the economy or to abandon the achievements of modern civilization.
Video examples
Europe's plan to become...
protecting precious nature and animals, recycling and waste management, just to name a few. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, we resolved not to let our objective be derailed.
Video examples
How online abuse of...
he asked me to include it in my talk. We need to grow support lines and help groups, so victims can help each other when their lives and finances have been derailed.
Video examples
How long should your...
But wait! It’s only lunchtime and you still have so much to do. Would taking a nap help? Or would it derail your day? Our sleep, both at night and in naps,
Video examples
Istanbul Super Tunnel PIPE...
artifacts from the deep alluvial soil while the discovery has delighted historians it has completely derailed the engineers
Video examples
Einstein's miracle year...
But skipping classes to spend more time in the lab and neglecting to show proper deference to his professors had derailed his intended career path. Passed over even for a lab assistant position, he had to settle for a job at the Swiss patent office, obtained with the help of a friend's father.
Video examples
Why can’t governments...
is considered a sign of economic health, but more can quickly derail an economy. In recent decades, central banks have tried an approach called quantitative easing to infuse the economy with cash while maintaining a low risk of severe inflation. In this approach,
Video examples
Parag Khanna maps the...
Well here is a fundamental problem we have not our basic political geography. How do we distribute ourselves around the world? Now this is important, because border conflicts justify so much of the world's military-industrial complex. Border conflicts can derail
Video examples
What are the most...
could have a truly transformative impact. Now the third area is the one that I want to focus on the most, and that's the category of existential events like a nuclear war or a global pandemic that could permanently derail civilization
Video examples
An ER doctor on triaging...
But I couldn't let it derail me. Because, you see, we all get nervous. We all get scared, but it's what you do next that matters. That first feeling isn't the problem. It can be an important sign.
Video examples
Yuval Noah Harari: The...
But that's still just two percent. This means that to save the environment, we don't need to completely derail the economy or to abandon the achievements of modern civilization.
Video examples
Europe's plan to become...
protecting precious nature and animals, recycling and waste management, just to name a few. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, we resolved not to let our objective be derailed.
Video examples
How online abuse of...
he asked me to include it in my talk. We need to grow support lines and help groups, so victims can help each other when their lives and finances have been derailed.
Video examples
How long should your...
But wait! It’s only lunchtime and you still have so much to do. Would taking a nap help? Or would it derail your day? Our sleep, both at night and in naps,
Video examples
Istanbul Super Tunnel PIPE...
artifacts from the deep alluvial soil while the discovery has delighted historians it has completely derailed the engineers
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Douglas Conant
American Businessman
Most people that derail as leaders in the corporate world, it's not because they couldn't do the math and calculate return on investment properly. The issues are communication and understanding. All of what typically would've been called the 'soft stuff.' You have to be authentic. You have to be dialed into the soft stuff.
Quote examples
Gail Collins
American Journalist
You reduce illegal immigration by making it harder to get jobs here, or easier to get jobs south of the border. This idea that we can't pass an immigration law until we hit some imaginary security target is just a way to derail reform.
Quote examples
Ishita Dutta
Indian Actress
I'm proud that my sister has started #MeToo movement in India and the nation has supported her. Media has played a vast role in giving this movement the much needed push but it must not be derailed with false accusations.
Quote examples
Harvey Mackay
American Businessman
By my count, more business leaders have failed and derailed because of arrogance than any other character flaw.
Quote examples
Judd Nelson
American Actor
I put less stock in others' opinions than my own. No one else's opinions could derail me.
Quote examples
Conchata Ferrell
There's nothing so interesting as a steam roller that's about to be derailed.
Quote examples
Joni Mitchell
Canadian Musician
I have always thought of myself as a painter derailed by circumstance.
Quote examples
Joe Flaherty
American Actor
If you don't hop aboard the change train, you're gonna get derailed.
Quote examples
Henry Louis Gates
American Critic
I don't think the riots derailed the civil rights movement.
Quote examples
Chaka Fattah
American Politician
Democracy derailed is democracy denied.
Quote examples
Douglas Conant
American Businessman
Most people that derail as leaders in the corporate world, it's not because they couldn't do the math and calculate return on investment properly. The issues are communication and understanding. All of what typically would've been called the 'soft stuff.' You have to be authentic. You have to be dialed into the soft stuff.
Quote examples
Gail Collins
American Journalist
You reduce illegal immigration by making it harder to get jobs here, or easier to get jobs south of the border. This idea that we can't pass an immigration law until we hit some imaginary security target is just a way to derail reform.
Quote examples
Ishita Dutta
Indian Actress
I'm proud that my sister has started #MeToo movement in India and the nation has supported her. Media has played a vast role in giving this movement the much needed push but it must not be derailed with false accusations.
Quote examples
Harvey Mackay
American Businessman
By my count, more business leaders have failed and derailed because of arrogance than any other character flaw.
Quote examples
Judd Nelson
American Actor
I put less stock in others' opinions than my own. No one else's opinions could derail me.
Quote examples
Conchata Ferrell
There's nothing so interesting as a steam roller that's about to be derailed.
Quote examples
Joni Mitchell
Canadian Musician
I have always thought of myself as a painter derailed by circumstance.
Quote examples
Joe Flaherty
American Actor
If you don't hop aboard the change train, you're gonna get derailed.
Quote examples
Henry Louis Gates
American Critic
I don't think the riots derailed the civil rights movement.
Quote examples
Chaka Fattah
American Politician
Democracy derailed is democracy denied.
Example 1 of 10
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