red herring

[ red her-ing ]

noun

1. a smoked herring.
2. something intended to divert attention from the real problem or matter at hand; a misleading clue.
3. Also called red-her·ring pro·spec·tus [red, -, her, -ing pr, uh, -spek-t, uh, s]. 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.
4. any similar tentative financial prospectus, as one concerning a pending or proposed sale of cooperative or condominium apartments.

red herring

noun

1. anything that diverts attention from a topic or line of inquiry
2. a herring cured by salting and smoking

red herring

1. 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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of red herring¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, told Salon that his own research suggests that noncitizen voting is a total red herring.

From Salon

"The fun is to play into the red herrings," he says.

From BBC

Can she push her own messaging and policy ideas to the fore when her sparring partner is renowned for quashing substantive discourse in a barrage of insults, lies and red herrings?

From Los Angeles Times

First, the red herring: the declaration by Hamas that it would not send a delegation to the meeting is unlikely to have a major impact.

From BBC

A conservative group that’s suing to force the release of the recording called the argument a “red herring.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• ploy
• smokescreen