a red herring

Значение

something that distracts attention from the real issue

Деталь, отвлекающая от сути дела.

Примеры

1. 1The coloured mark was a red herring; a loose plug had actually caused the fault.
2. 2Don't let the discussion about uniforms become a red herring when we're here to discuss missing equipment.
3. 3The muddy footprint proved a red herring; it belonged to a visitor with no connection to the missing keys.
4. 4In the novel, the mysterious parcel was a red herring, drawing readers away from the real explanation.
5. 5That payment was a red herring; checking it distracted us from the real error in a different account.

Грамматика

Исчисляемое: a red herring, во множественном числе red herrings. Часто после be или turn out to be.

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