Bedeutung
To deviate from the plan.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Finns value 'asia' (the matter at hand). Going 'sivuun' is seen as a lack of professionalism or focus. It is common for a subordinate to tell a boss 'olemme menossa sivuun' without it being considered rude. In meetings, silence is preferred over 'sivuun meneminen'. If you have nothing to add to the main topic, it is better to stay quiet than to start a side conversation. Teachers often use this phrase to guide students back to the lesson plan. It is a gentle way of maintaining authority without being harsh. The phrase is still used literally in the forest. If you are hiking and someone says 'olet menossa sivuun', they are warning you that you are leaving the marked trail.
Use it as a 'Soft' Correction
If you need to tell your boss they are rambling, use 'Olemme ehkä menossa hieman sivuun'. The 'ehkä' (maybe) and 'hieman' (a bit) make it very polite.
Watch the Case!
Always use 'sivuun' (illative) with 'mennä'. Using 'sivussa' (inessive) is a classic learner mistake that sounds very strange to Finns.
Bedeutung
To deviate from the plan.
Use it as a 'Soft' Correction
If you need to tell your boss they are rambling, use 'Olemme ehkä menossa hieman sivuun'. The 'ehkä' (maybe) and 'hieman' (a bit) make it very polite.
Watch the Case!
Always use 'sivuun' (illative) with 'mennä'. Using 'sivussa' (inessive) is a classic learner mistake that sounds very strange to Finns.
The 'Red Thread'
Finns love the concept of 'punainen lanka'. If you say 'menossa sivuun', you can follow up with 'palataan punaiseen lankaan' for extra native points.
Teste dich selbst
Täytä puuttuva sana oikeassa muodossa (menossa/mennyt/menemässä).
Huomasimme eilen, että projekti oli jo ______ sivuun.
The context 'oli jo' with a process suggests the progressive 'menossa'.
Mikä lause on oikein?
Valitse oikea vaihtoehto:
You go 'sivuun' (to the side) 'aiheesta' (from the topic).
Täydennä dialogi sopivalla fraasilla.
A: 'Puhutaanko me nyt lomasta vai työstä?' B: 'Hups, meidän keskustelu on ______.'
'Menossa sivuun' fits the context of getting off-topic.
Yhdistä tilanne ja oikea lause.
Tilanne: Budjetti ylittyy.
Budgeting relates to 'laskelmat' (calculations).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenHuomasimme eilen, että projekti oli jo ______ sivuun.
The context 'oli jo' with a process suggests the progressive 'menossa'.
Valitse oikea vaihtoehto:
You go 'sivuun' (to the side) 'aiheesta' (from the topic).
A: 'Puhutaanko me nyt lomasta vai työstä?' B: 'Hups, meidän keskustelu on ______.'
'Menossa sivuun' fits the context of getting off-topic.
Tilanne: Budjetti ylittyy.
Budgeting relates to 'laskelmat' (calculations).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, literally 'Auto on menossa sivuun tieltä'. But 'suistua tieltä' is more common for accidents.
No, it's actually seen as helpful and professional in Finland, as long as your tone is neutral.
'Sivuun' implies going into a space at the side, while 'sivulle' is more general. In this idiom, only 'sivuun' is used.
No, that would be confusing. It implies a mistake in a process, not a career change.
It is the 3rd infinitive inessive form of the verb 'mennä', acting as a progressive marker.
Yes, Estonian has 'kõrvale kalduma', which is very similar in meaning and structure.
Yes! 'Ruokavalioni on menossa sivuun' means you are starting to eat things you shouldn't.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends or with the President of Finland.
'Aiheesta' (from the topic) is the most frequent companion.
Verwandte Redewendungen
ajautua sivuraiteelle
similarto drift onto a side track
mennä mönkään
synonymto go wrong/fail
pysyä asiassa
contrastto stay on topic
poiketa suunnitelmasta
similarto deviate from the plan
mennä sivu suun
confusingto miss an opportunity
