a red herring

Nghĩa

something that distracts attention from the real issue

Điều làm phân tán sự chú ý khỏi vấn đề thật.

Ví dụ

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.

Ngữ pháp

Danh từ đếm được: a red herring, số nhiều red herrings. Thường đi sau be hoặc turn out to be.

Thành ngữ gần nghĩa