The difference between Lay-by and Sidetrack

When used as nouns, lay-by means a paved area at the side of a highway designated for drivers to stop in, for emergency parking, or where vehicles can wait, with larger lay-bys possibly having facilities like food vendors or public telephones, whereas sidetrack means a second, relatively short length of track just to the side of a railroad track, joined to the main track by switches at one or both ends, used either for unloading freight, or to allow two trains on a same track to meet (opposite directions) or pass (same direction).


Sidetrack is also verb with the meaning: to divert (a locomotive) on to a lesser used track in order to allow other trains to pass.

check bellow for the other definitions of Lay-by and Sidetrack

  1. Lay-by as a noun (UK):

    A paved area at the side of a highway designated for drivers to stop in, for emergency parking, or where vehicles can wait, with larger lay-bys possibly having facilities like food vendors or public telephones.

  2. Lay-by as a noun (UK):

    A railroad siding; a second, short railroad track just to the side of a railroad track, connected with the main track by a switch and used for unloading, bypassing, etc.

  3. Lay-by as a noun (nautical):

    A widened section of a narrow river or canal, formed to one side so as to leave the channel free, for mooring of vessels, where vessels can lay over or allow others to pass.

  4. Lay-by as a noun (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa):

    A method of retail purchase in which the selected goods are set aside and the customer pays for them in instalments, receiving them when fully paid; layaway.

  1. Sidetrack as a noun (rail transport):

    A second, relatively short length of track just to the side of a railroad track, joined to the main track by switches at one or both ends, used either for unloading freight, or to allow two trains on a same track to meet (opposite directions) or pass (same direction); a railroad siding.

  2. Sidetrack as a noun:

    (sometimes) Any auxiliary railroad track, as differentiated from a siding, that runs adjacent to the main track.

  3. Sidetrack as a noun (mining):

    A smaller tunnel or well drilled as an auxiliary off a main tunnel or well.

  4. Sidetrack as a noun:

    An alternate train of thought, issue, topic, or activity, that is a deviation or distraction from the topic at hand or central activity, and secondary or subordinate in importance or effectiveness.

    Examples:

    "Stay focused on the story; you keep getting lost in all of these little sidetracks."

  1. Sidetrack as a verb:

    To divert (a locomotive) on to a lesser used track in order to allow other trains to pass.

  2. Sidetrack as a verb:

    To divert or distract (someone) from a main issue or course of action with an alternate or less relevant topic or activity; or, to use deliberate trickery or sly wordplay when talking to (a person) in order to avoid discussion of a subject.

    Examples:

    "Sorry I'm late. I got sidetracked helping my friend move some furniture."

    "The politician sidetracked the reporter with a story about duck hunting instead of a direct response to the question that was asked."

    "I hope you can sidetrack the teacher with questions so we don't have to take the exam."

  3. Sidetrack as a verb:

    To sideline; to push aside; to divert or distract from, reducing (something) to a secondary or subordinate position.

    Examples:

    "The project was sidetracked in favor of a more popular program."

    "He has sidetracked this debate for far too long."

  4. Sidetrack as a verb (intransitive):

    To deviate briefly from the topic at hand.

    Examples:

    "Just to sidetrack a little bit from the subject I will explain my reasoning."

    "To sidetrack for a moment, let me commend this team for their outstanding efforts."