| REDHERRINGS | Things which divert attention from a topic or line of inquiry (3,8) |
| REDHERRING | Anything that diverts attention from a topic or line of inquiry (3,7) |
| THEME | A topic or subject of a discussion, essay, exhibition, sermon etc; or, a pervading idea in art or literature (5) |
| DIGRESS | Stray from a topic |
| UPSTAGE | Divert attention from a guest out of line about piano (7) |
| STOCK | A tree trunk or main stem; a perennial part of a herbaceous plant; a person's ancestry or line of descent; a fund or store; or, a farm's collective animals, kept for meat or milk (5) |
| CIRCLESBACK | Brings up a prior topic ... or a hint to making sense of the answers to this puzzle's starred clues |
| DISTRACT | Divert attention from a police inspector's moralistic work (8) |
| METHODOLOGY | Study of the principles and procedures of inquiry (11) |
| DANCETTE | Word, from "tooth", for a heraldic or architectural pattern or line of chevrons, indents or zigzags reminiscent of a set of teeth (8) |
| CHAINGANG | Form of slave or prison labour sung about by Sam Cooke; or, a peloton or line of slipstreaming cyclists (5,4) |
| SIDESHOW | An entertainment subordinate to a circus or fair's main attraction; or, an incidental spectacle that diverts attention from the main concern (8) |
| DYNASTY | A hereditary house or line of monarchs or powerful rulers (7) |
| UPSTAGED | Divert attention from poor dupe welcoming the men without the women (8) |
| STRINGS | Wire-like elements of violins, tennis racquets or archery bows; cords for beads or pearls; or, lines of alphanumeric characters (7) |
| SCHTICK | A comedian's familiar routine, or line of chat, etc (7) |
| ITINERARY | A plan or line of travel, route (9) |
| TRADE | Swap / buying and selling / profession or line of work |
| TOMORROW | Mr Cat, or line of seats in the future (8) |
| JUTOUT | Extend over the main body or line of something (3,3) |
