Slang dossier
Side quest
Pronounced syde kwest
An unexpected detour or extra activity outside the main plan, borrowed from optional missions in games. It can be a fun small adventure rather than wasted time.
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In a sentence
How it sounds
Illustrative examples
- “We went for milk and ended up on a bakery side quest.”
- “Finding the missing charger became a side quest.”
Where teens use it
The habitat
Gaming references, day-in-the-life videos and accounts of spontaneous plans.
Parent briefing
What parents should know
A detour can be harmless fun, but changed plans still need basic communication. Ask where they are going, how they will get home and whether the original commitment is still covered.
Keep decoding
Related terms
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