red herring

nounmisleading clue

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Synonyms for red herring

noun misleading clue

More words related to red herring

Word Origin & History

"smoked herring" early 15c. (they turn red when cured), as opposed to white herring "fresh herring." Supposedly used by fugitives to put bloodhounds off their scent (1680s), hence metaphoric sense (1864) of "something used to divert attention from the basic issue;" earlier simply "a false lead":

Example Sentences for red herring

No; honor would not do: it was only a red herring trailed across the scent.

After all, she was merely "a red herring drawn across the trail," eh?

He drew the red herring of the Reformation across the trail of the divorce.

It was a foregone conclusion that a red herring should become their sign after that!

His first sign of recovery was his craving for a red herring.

If I can tell which is the way to my master's house, I am a red herring, and no honest gentleman.

This clever drawing of a red herring across the trail of the main issue answered.

And after the sausages had ceased to be, he lit a Red Herring cigarette and went swaggering out into the twilight street.

His wife would be a dreadful person, thin, withered, herring-gutted—a sort of red herring with a cap.

The red herring of annexation was drawn across the trail, and many a farmer followed it to the polling booth.

red herring

Synonyms for red herring

More words related to red herring

camouflage

concealment

disguise

diversion

pretext

smoke screen

red herring

Synonyms .css-1u0ksf7{color:#d9d9d9;}for red herring

More words related to red herring

.css-1unrqcp{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}camouflage

concealment

disguise

diversion

pretext

smoke screen

Synonyms for red herring

camouflage