be derailed

USAGE SUMMARY

"be derailed" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to be diverted or thrown off track from one's original intentions or plans. Example: The politician's campaign was derailed when a scandal involving his personal life was exposed to the public.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr Juncker may be derailed.

The Economist

But I don't want to be derailed.

The Guardian - Music

The revolution could yet be derailed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Despite these positive signs, the plan could still be derailed.

The New York Times

The government insists the privatizations will not be derailed.

The New York Times

Sometimes creativity can be derailed by very real events.

The New Yorker

The Chinese aren't going to be derailed by press speculation".

The Guardian

But he added that the process would not be derailed.

The New York Times

Would her Olympic dream be derailed by ignorance?

The Guardian - Sport

Apprehension mounted but Liverpool's title pursuit could not be derailed.

The Guardian - Sport

You have to truly trust your own intentions and instincts and not be derailed by others.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be derailed" when you want to emphasize that a plan, project, or process has been disrupted and is unlikely to continue as originally intended.

Common error

Avoid using "be derailed" for situations that only involve temporary setbacks or minor inconveniences. The phrase suggests a more significant and potentially irreversible disruption. A simple delay may be better described as "delayed" or "postponed" rather than "derailed."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be derailed" functions primarily as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something is being diverted or prevented from its intended course. Ludwig AI confirms this usage, supported by numerous examples where plans, projects, or processes are described as being disrupted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be derailed" is a versatile phrase used to express that something—a plan, a project, or even a career—has been significantly disrupted and diverted from its intended course. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and commonly used, especially in news and media contexts. While the phrase is relatively neutral in tone, it suggests a substantial disruption rather than a minor setback. For alternative expressions, consider phrases like "be thwarted" or "be disrupted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to use "be derailed" when the situation involves a considerable diversion from the original path.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be derailed from the original course

Adds specificity by explicitly mentioning a 'course', which can be plans, path, direction, or journey.

be thwarted

Emphasizes the prevention of a plan or effort, differing in focusing on active opposition.

be thrown off course

Implies an external force causing deviation from the intended path.

be sidetracked

Focuses on a temporary diversion, implying a potential return to the original path.

be disrupted

Highlights the interruption of a process or activity, varying in its broader applicability.

be taken off track

Similar to sidetracked, implies a departure from a set direction or plan.

be impeded

Stresses the obstruction or hindering of progress, contrasting in its emphasis on difficulty.

be obstructed

Similar to 'impeded', but often refers to physical or tangible barriers.

be prevented from succeeding

Focuses on the failure to achieve success, differing in its emphasis on the outcome.

fail to materialize

Focuses on the non-occurrence of an event or plan, differing in its emphasis on absence.

FAQs

How can I use "be derailed" in a sentence?

You can use "be derailed" to indicate that something has been disrupted or prevented from progressing as planned. For example, "The negotiations "could be derailed" by the latest political developments."

What does it mean when a project "be derailed"?

When a project "be derailed", it means that its progress has been significantly disrupted, possibly to the point where it can no longer continue as originally planned. This often implies external factors or major obstacles have caused the disruption.

Which is correct, "be derailed" or "being derailed"?

"Be derailed" is used in passive constructions, while "being derailed" describes a continuous process of disruption. For instance, "The plan "could be derailed"" versus "The project is "being derailed" by constant delays".

What are some alternatives to saying "be derailed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "be thwarted", "be disrupted", or "be thrown off course" to convey a similar meaning of being diverted from an intended path.