red herring

SEE SYNONYMS FOR red herring ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a smoked herring.

something intended to divert attention from the real problem or matter at hand; a misleading clue.

Also called red-herring prospectus. Finance. a tentative prospectus circulated by the underwriters of a new issue of stocks or bonds that is pending approval by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: so called because the front cover of such a prospectus must carry a special notice printed in red.

any similar tentative financial prospectus, as one concerning a pending or proposed sale of cooperative or condominium apartments.

Origin of red herring

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Words nearby red herring

red-headed, red-headed woodpecker, red heart, red heat, red hepatization, red herring, redhibition, red hind, redhorse, red-hot, red-hot poker

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for red herring

Mother says fishes comes from hard roes, so I chuck'd in the roe of a red-herring last week, but I doesn't catch any fish yet.
The Sketches of Seymour (Illustrated), Part 2.|Robert Seymour
Yes,” replied his master, fixing his little grey eye sternly on him, “the red-herring.
Snarley-yow|Frederick Marryat
But Snarleyyow had not forgotten the red-herring; so in revenge he first bit Smallbones in the thigh, and then obeyed his master.
Snarley-yow|Frederick Marryat
Ginger in turn unfolded from its manifold wrappings a red-herring.
Adventures of Bindle|Herbert George Jenkins

He then brought out his bag, set up his supporters, fixed it close to the hatch, and put the red-herring inside of it.
Snarley-yow|Frederick Marryat

British Dictionary definitions for red herring

red herring

noun

anything that diverts attention from a topic or line of inquiry

a herring cured by salting and smoking

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with red herring

red herring

Something that draws attention away from the central issue, as in Talking about the new plant is a red herring to keep us from learning about downsizing plans. The herring in this expression is red and strong-smelling from being preserved by smoking. The idiom alludes to dragging a smoked herring across a trail to cover up the scent and throw off tracking dogs. [Late 1800s]

Cultural definitions for red herring

red herring

In argument, something designed to divert an opponent's attention from the central issue. If a herring is dragged across a trail that hounds are following, it throws them off the scent.

单词	red herring
释义	red herring SEE SYNONYMS FOR red herring ON THESAURUS.COM noun a smoked herring. something intended to divert attention from the real problem or matter at hand; a misleading clue. Also called red-herring prospectus. Finance. a tentative prospectus circulated by the underwriters of a new issue of stocks or bonds that is pending approval by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: so called because the front cover of such a prospectus must carry a special notice printed in red. any similar tentative financial prospectus, as one concerning a pending or proposed sale of cooperative or condominium apartments. Origin of red herring late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425 Words nearby red herring red-headed, red-headed woodpecker, red heart, red heat, red hepatization, red herring, redhibition, red hind, redhorse, red-hot, red-hot poker Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for red herring Mother says fishes comes from hard roes, so I chuck'd in the roe of a red-herring last week, but I doesn't catch any fish yet. The Sketches of Seymour (Illustrated), Part 2.\|Robert Seymour Yes,” replied his master, fixing his little grey eye sternly on him, “the red-herring. Snarley-yow\|Frederick Marryat But Snarleyyow had not forgotten the red-herring; so in revenge he first bit Smallbones in the thigh, and then obeyed his master. Snarley-yow\|Frederick Marryat Ginger in turn unfolded from its manifold wrappings a red-herring. Adventures of Bindle\|Herbert George Jenkins He then brought out his bag, set up his supporters, fixed it close to the hatch, and put the red-herring inside of it. Snarley-yow\|Frederick Marryat British Dictionary definitions for red herring red herring noun anything that diverts attention from a topic or line of inquiry a herring cured by salting and smoking Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Idioms and Phrases with red herring red herring Something that draws attention away from the central issue, as in Talking about the new plant is a red herring to keep us from learning about downsizing plans. The herring in this expression is red and strong-smelling from being preserved by smoking. The idiom alludes to dragging a smoked herring across a trail to cover up the scent and throw off tracking dogs. [Late 1800s] The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Words related to red herring smoke screen, ploy, bait, commotion, curve ball, deviation, distraction, disturbance, diversion, false face, gimmick, interruption, maneuver, wild-goose chase, distractor, fool's errand Cultural definitions for red herring red herring In argument, something designed to divert an opponent's attention from the central issue. If a herring is dragged across a trail that hounds are following, it throws them off the scent. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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red herring

noun

Origin of red herring

Words nearby red herring

Example sentences from the Web for red herring

British Dictionary definitions for red herring

noun

Idioms and Phrases with red herring

Words related to red herring

Cultural definitions for red herring