a red herring
/ə ˌred ˈherɪŋ/NEUTRAL · C1
Meaning
something that distracts attention from the real issue
Examples
- 1The coloured mark was a red herring; a loose plug had actually caused the fault.
- 2Don't let the discussion about uniforms become a red herring when we're here to discuss missing equipment.
- 3The muddy footprint proved a red herring; it belonged to a visitor with no connection to the missing keys.
- 4In the novel, the mysterious parcel was a red herring, drawing readers away from the real explanation.
- 5That payment was a red herring; checking it distracted us from the real error in a different account.
Grammar
Countable: a red herring, plural red herrings. Often after be or turn out to be.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about animals
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →the black sheepsomeone whose behaviour embarrasses their family or grouplike water off a duck's backhaving no effect on someone despite criticism or warningshave bigger fish to fryto have more important things to deal withhave a bee in your bonnetto keep talking about an idea you consider very importantthe lion's sharethe largest part of somethingsmell a ratto suspect that something is dishonest or misleading
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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