
IdiomDaily Life
English
beside the point
Meaning: Irrelevant.
Example: “Whether the movie was long is beside the point; was it good?”
Equivalents in other languages
Italian: fuori del seminato Literally: Outside of the sown field
Origin: "The point" is the main matter being discussed, and something beside it is off to one side, not on target. The phrase is recorded from the 17th century, when "beside" also meant "outside of".
More English idioms
- black out To lose consciousness temporarily.
- toot one's own horn To boast or brag.
- blow one's stack To become suddenly very angry.
- blow hot and cold To have mixed or inconsistent feelings about something.
- feel blue To feel sad or low.
- blue ribbon First-rate or renowned; also, a first prize.
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