side issue
5
4.1
- noun
- /ˈsaɪd ˈɪʃu/
:
tema secundario
- Why is everybody ignoring that and focusing on the side issue?
- a little side issue
- side issues raised
- diverted by side issues
Another big problem, and this is a side issue.
- Another big problem, and this is a side issue.
- You know that that's a whole side issue, but you can't avoid making some sort of commitments in one way or another.
- And young people are completely oblivious to the fact that seniors are robbing you blind while you're voting on, on side issues.
Examples
-
No, this was a side issue; whatever she was doing, it was not the important consideration.
Fiction book (1993) -
There are the side issues too.
Blog text (28) -
Everything else has just been a side issue.
-
I know it's a side issue.
Fiction book (2000) -
Is this a side issue?
Fiction book (1991) -
If men find it attractive, then that is really just a side issue.
Blog text (17) -
Besides, we should not be diverted by side issues.
Blog text (34) -
So why are you focusing on the side issue instead of the more substantive issue?
Blog text (13) -
That's a complete side issue, Callum, completely beside the point.
Fiction book (2002) -
Many of the complaints are actually side issues that can be resolved later.
Synonyms
∞
3.0
An important topic or problem people discuss
26
5.5
A small event that distracts from more important matters
A problem that looks small but does not fix the real cause
Antonyms
How Important
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'an issue less important than the main subject' is directly derivable from combining 'side' (a secondary or peripheral aspect) with 'issue' (a subject or problem); the composition signals a peripheral or secondary issue. This noun+noun/ modifier pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows straightforward semantic composition, so a B1 learner who knows both words should understand it.
Etymology
Side issue comes from a simple picture: a small problem sitting at the side of a bigger topic, like a note stuck to the edge of a main page. That's why side issue is used for something that is 'less important' than the 'main subject'.