beside the point
Tangential or insignificant to the main issue being discussed. I do love the apartment, but that's beside the point because I don't have enough money for a security deposit right now. Your weekend plans are beside the point—let's get back to the topic at hand. A: "Hey, we're talking about how you got caught sneaking in last night—my role in any of that is beside the point!" B: "I'm not so sure it is! Mom and Dad, what do you think?"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
beside the point
and beside the questionirrelevant; of no importance. That's very interesting, but beside the point. That's beside the point. You're evading the issue.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
beside the point
Also,
beside the mark or question . Irrelevant, off the subject. For example,
Whether you had insurance is beside the point; the accident is your fault. These terms came into common use in the mid-1800s. Also see
neither here nor there.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
beside the ˈpoint
of no importance to the matter being discussed; irrelevant: His political interests are beside the point. All I want to know about him is whether he can do the job properly.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
beside the point
Irrelevant to the matter at hand.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
beside the point
Irrelevant. This expression, also put as beside the mark or purpose, dates from the sixteenth century. Thomas More wrote (1533), “He speketh al beside the purpose.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer