detour ahead

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

a signal that the expected or planned route to a goal has been blocked or is unavailable and that an alternative path must be taken, typically one that is longer, less familiar, or more inconvenient than the original plan; derived from road signage warning drivers of road closures or construction that force a diversion from the direct route; in figurative use a detour ahead acknowledges the necessity of adapting plans, accepting delays, and finding alternative approaches when circumstances prevent the originally envisaged route to success; the attitude toward a detour can range from frustration at the disruption to genuine appreciation that the alternative route reveals unexpected scenery, opportunities, or insights that the original path would have bypassed