red
he
rring
noun
Third Person
red herrings
1
anything that is intended to take people's focus away from what is important
The idiom "red herring" originates from a technique used in training hunting dogs. A red herring is a smoked and strongly scented fish, and it was used to distract or divert the hounds from the scent of the actual prey during training. In a figurative sense, this expression is used to refer to something that is misleading or a distraction, diverting attention away from the real issue or problem at hand.
- The suspect's alibi seemed like a red herring, as it couldn't be corroborated by any evidence.
- The long discussion about office décor was just a red herring, avoiding the important topic of employee morale.
- Politicians often use red herrings to shift focus from controversial issues to more favorable subjects.
- The debate over a minor procedural detail was a red herring to delay the decision on the budget.
- The conspiracy theories circulating online are often filled with red herrings to mislead the public and create confusion.
2
a first draft of a prospectus; must be clearly marked to indicate that parts may be changed in the final prospectus
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3
a dried and smoked herring having a reddish color
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