Red herring
Channel: English Unpacked
Date: 2024-01-11

The idiom "red herring" refers to something that distracts or misleads you from the main point or issue. It comes from the practice of using a strong-smelling fish, called a red herring, to throw hunting dogs off the scent during a chase. In everyday life, a red herring can be a false clue or a misleading statement that takes your attention away from what's important.