back on track

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sara88

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Sep 12, 2007
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Hello
I just come across this expression. I checked out its meaning in Cambridge dictionary but didn't finf it.
"get back on track"!!
Please explain it for me and give me some examples if possible.
Thanks a lot in advance.
 

Barb_D

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Picture a train - it's on the tracks, going to its destination. Then something happens. It's no longer going to the right place. If you "get it back on track" you help ensure the train goes where it is supposed to.

You use this when someone had gone wrong and you need people to get things going in the right direction again. I could be an entire project or even a discussion that has gone off on a tangent, and the meeting leader says "Okay, let's get back on track here. Does anyone have a suggestion about how to..." and returns to the primary reason for the meeting.
 

Methuselah

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Jun 17, 2008
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Something(e.g. work, relationship, task) had been negatively affected , but now it's normal.

Origin:

Navigation.
The planned course is called the track.

Literal use:

The pilot checked his compass, the storm had blown the small aircraft off course, but they were now back on track

Idiom:

The fog has cleared at the airport, scheduled services will soon be back on track.

After her mother died her life was a mess, now she is back on track.

Hopefully, the middle East peace process will soon be back on track.

If I don't get back on track with my studies, I will surely fail my exams.

Her mother has moved out, her relationship with her husband is back on track.

I have someone helping me at work, things will soon be back on track.


As a native English speaker I use this far more often in the "back on track" form, than the "get back on track" form.
 
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sara88

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Sep 12, 2007
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Student or Learner
Thanks a lot everyone.
I'm very very happy. All your explanations make sense to me.
Now it's very easy to use it.
Thanks again and again for your endless help and support.
 

JessicaJones

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Jun 25, 2008
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English Teacher
some expression dealing with diversion:

side-tracked - detracted, distracted, interrupted, have a diversion.
We got a little side-tracked there, but we're back on track now.
Sorry, I digressed there a little, but I'll get this talk back on track.
Sometimes you have to take one step back to move two steps forward.
I've lost my train of thought. Where was I?
The project had a few hiccups, but we're right back on course now.
We have our shit together now. No more wondering off the beaten path.
We were victims of some diversions but we are committed to stay the course.
 
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