That's beside the point

Origin

The core of the phrase hinges on the literal idea of hitting a 'point' – a target or a specific objective in an argument. Imagine a marksman aiming for a bullseye; anything that lands 'beside the point' is simply not on target. This figurative sense has been around for centuries, with 'point' referring to the central issue or objective of a discussion or debate. The specific phrasing 'beside the point' solidified into a common idiom during the 19th century, becoming a crisp, direct way to dismiss an irrelevant comment without being overtly rude. It suggests that while a remark might be interesting, it utterly fails to advance the core discussion, like an arrow falling harmlessly next to its intended mark.