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Red herring
01
赤いニシキヘビ, 注意をそらすもの
anything that is intended to take people's focus away from what is important
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "red herring" and when to use it?
The idiom "red herring" originates from a technique used in training hunting dogs. A red herring is a smoked and strongly scented fish, and it was used to distract or divert the hounds from the scent of the actual prey during training. In a figurative sense, this expression is used to refer to something that is misleading or a distraction, diverting attention away from the real issue or problem at hand.
02
草案の目次, 初稿のプロスペクタス
a first draft of a prospectus; must be clearly marked to indicate that parts may be changed in the final prospectus
03
赤いニシン, 燻製ニシン
a dried and smoked herring having a reddish color
red herring
n
例
Politicians often use red herrings to shift focus from controversial issues to more favorable subjects.
The debate over a minor procedural detail was a red herring to delay the decision on the budget.
The long discussion about office décor was just a red herring, avoiding the important topic of employee morale.
The suspect's alibi seemed like a red herring, as it couldn't be corroborated by any evidence.
The conspiracy theories circulating online are often filled with red herrings to mislead the public and create confusion.
