THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
A red herring
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
An idea, detail or topic that distracts attention from the main issue.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- The debate about the office paint colour was a red herring; the real problem was poor ventilation.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
The debate about the office paint colour was ________; the real problem was poor ventilation.
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A red herring — An idea, detail or topic that distracts attention from the main issue.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “A red herring” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
An idea, detail or topic that distracts attention from the main issue.
Compare: The debate about the office paint colour was a red herring; the real problem was poor ventilation.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it when a discussion or investigation follows an irrelevant distraction. It works in conversation, study and professional discussion.
More examples in context
- That old receipt was a red herring in the mystery story.
- The price comparison is a red herring because the two services do completely different jobs.
Usage note
A red herring does not have to be a lie or a deliberate trick. A true but irrelevant detail can also distract from the main question.
A short conversation
A: Should we discuss the logo before fixing the checkout page?
B: The logo is a red herring right now. Customers cannot pay.
A: You are right; let us fix the checkout first.
One more practice question
Which detail is a red herring when investigating a leaking roof?
A. The colour of the garden fence, which has no connection to the leak.
B. A broken roof tile directly above the wet ceiling.
Check your answer
A. The fence colour distracts from the leak without helping explain it.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.