side issue

side issue

A topic related to, but less important than, the subject currently being discussed or considered. While you make an intriguing point, I'm afraid we don't have to time to cover side issues like that in today's lecture. Try not to get lost in all the side issues related to this case as you do your research.
See also: issue, side
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • a sore point
  • a sticking point
  • be the talk of something
  • be the talk of the town
  • the talk of the town
  • the whole picture
  • specialize
  • specialize in
  • specialize in (something)
  • return to (one's) muttons
References in periodicals archive
But of course, it is just a side issue. The reality is he wanted to implement the second phase of the agrarian reform program,' he said.
RE: The deplorable situation at the Ricoh Arena I would like to raise a side issue, which is extremely important to some local people.
In the eyes of anyone not connected to the club, the Black Cats are merely a side issue as the Old Trafford side try to retain their title from the grasp of their city rivals.
As a side issue, this raises yet another good reason why the area should have a unitary authority (Cleveland?) The area only needs one athletic stadium - the Gateshead stadium serves the whole of Tyneside so if Clairville is to be scrapped why can the councils not get together to build a joint one to serve the whole area?.
The proposed fuel swap last October was intended to get talks going on a small side issue where agreement was seen to be easier, in hopes that that would lay the groundwork for a return to discussion of the major issues.
He also expressed hope that the implementation of Direct Taxes Code and GST, would lead to broadening of tax base, simplification of the tax structure and improvement in tax compliance.Expressing concern over the increase in food prices including that of rice, wheat, pulses and vegetables which is sorely affecting the common man and his Budget, the Finance Minister said that the price rise in sugar could be attributed to demand side issue, but the price rise in rice, wheat, pulses, vegetables is primarily a supply side issue that need to be collectively addressed both in the short and the medium to long term.
Intelligent Design is a side issue used by some scientists, wise enough to know that life could not create itself, but afraid of mentioning God.
Everton supporters' justifiable claim to be the older of the two clubs is a side issue and irrelevant in this situation.
"Women's rights are not a side issue, but central to the future prosperity of any developing country.
He highlighted the fact that most doctors only see pain as a side issue of an operation or injury, not as the problem itself.
This is not a side issue. Giving young people something to do must play a key part in any drive against anti-social behaviour.
'Religion is not a side issue,' he stressed, 'it is at the heart of the issue.
This should not be decided as a side issue to blessing gay relationships.
As charged in the complaint, the fact that the price of a particular stock may have gotten a boost from Agora's hype was almost a side issue to the newsletter publisher's real objective.
For example, during the spat over the escape of StarLink corn into the human food supply several years ago, Nestle contends that the question of whether the corn caused allergic reactions in those who consumed it--all evidence suggests it did not--was a side issue. Rather, "the real issues had to do with the company's control over the food supply and evasion of democratic processes of government oversight?" It's hard to see the connection to the question of food safety except in the loosest sense.