red herring
noun /ˌred ˈherɪŋ/
/ˌred ˈherɪŋ/
- an unimportant fact, idea, event, etc. that takes people’s attention away from the important ones
- He deliberately threw a red herring into the conversation.
Word OriginFrom the custom of using the smell of a smoked, dried herring (which was red) to train dogs to hunt.