Red herring
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British pronunciation/ɹˈɛd hˈɛɹɪŋ/
American pronunciation/ɹˈɛd hˈɛɹɪŋ/

Definition & Meaning of "red herring"

Red herring
01

anything that is intended to take people's focus away from what is important

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IdiomIdiom
InformalInformal

What 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.

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Example
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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.
02

a first draft of a prospectus; must be clearly marked to indicate that parts may be changed in the final prospectus

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03

a dried and smoked herring having a reddish color

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red herring

n
example
Example
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.
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Definition & Meaning of "Red herring"
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