The squabble has been a costly distraction, analysts said.

The private charity schools will say this is a costly distraction from their core job of educating an elite very well.

Once thought of as a costly distraction, this group is now seen as a source of future growth.

They worry, though, that Volkswagen, which is struggling on several fronts, could end up as a costly distraction for Porsche's executives.

Badger culling has become a costly distraction from the important business of controlling cattle TB.

But it has concluded that this effort is a costly distraction, both to customers and to Wall Street.

Indeed, Iraq, many European officials say, was a costly distraction from fighting terrorism.

City academies were seen by the Brownites as a costly, flashy and elitist distraction from the cause of creating better comprehensive schools.

Years of lawsuits between Harris and Barrett were costly distractions for the two entrepreneurs.

But some skeptics wonder whether bombarding players with so much data will better their games, or just be a costly distraction.