throw off the track

throw someone off the track 

1. and throw someone off the trail Lit. to cause someone to lose the trail (when following someone or something. See also put someone off the track). The raccoon threw us off the track by running through the creek. The robber threw the police off the trail by leaving town.

2. Fig. to cause one to lose one's place in the sequence of things. The interruption threw me off the track for a moment, but I soon got started again with my presentation. Don't let little things throw you off the track. Concentrate on what you're doing.

See also: throw, track