red herring
Meaning
A misleading clue or distraction that draws attention away from the real issue.
Origin
From the practice of using strongly smoked (reddish) herrings to create a pungent scent trail to distract hunting dogs; later popularized in 19th‑century writing as a metaphor for misdirection.
Notes
Used for distractions in arguments, investigations, or stories; often implies deliberate misdirection (e.g., in mysteries or politics).
Examples
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The suspect’s sudden confession turned out to be a red herring that distracted investigators from the real culprit.
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The flashy new feature was a red herring; the app kept crashing because of a memory leak.
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His comments about budget cuts were a red herring to shift attention away from the missed deadline.
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In the novel, the mysterious phone call is a red herring that keeps readers guessing.
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Don’t let that minor typo be a red herring—we need to focus on the main argument.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually a noun phrase: “a red herring.” Common patterns: “throw in/introduce a red herring,” “be a red herring,” “a red herring argument/clue.” Plural: “red herrings.”
Synonyms
- distraction
- misdirection
- false lead
- decoy
- smokescreen
Antonyms
- the real issue
- the key point
- a genuine clue