take a detour

Meaning

This phrase means to take a different, longer route than planned, usually to avoid an obstacle like roadwork or traffic, or to visit an interesting place along the way. It can be used literally for physical travel or metaphorically for a temporary deviation from a main topic or plan. The tone is neutral and highly practical.

Examples

• We had to take a detour because the main highway was closed for construction.

  We had to take a detour because the main highway was closed for construction.

• Let's take a detour and see the historic lighthouse on our way to the beach.

  Let's take a detour and see the historic lighthouse on our way to the beach.

• The GPS advised us to take a detour to avoid the heavy traffic ahead.

  The GPS advised us to take a detour to avoid the heavy traffic ahead.

• We took a scenic detour through the countryside instead of staying on the interstate.

  We took a scenic detour through the countryside instead of staying on the interstate.

• If you take a detour through that small village, you'll find some amazing local bakeries.

  If you take a detour through that small village, you'll find some amazing local bakeries.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We made a detour to avoid the traffic.

  ✓ We took a detour to avoid the traffic.

  While 'make a detour' is occasionally used, 'take a detour' is the much more common and natural collocation in English.

• ✗ The road was closed, so we had to detour.

  ✓ The road was closed, so we had to take a detour.

  Although 'detour' can function as a verb, native speakers almost always use the phrasal noun collocation 'take a detour' in casual conversation.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The GPS suggested we ___ to bypass the accident on the bridge.

  💡 Use a phrase meaning to go a different way.

  Show answer

  take a detour

• We decided to ___ and visit a famous winery on our road trip.

  💡 The verb is 'take'.

  Show answer

  take a detour