red herring
0 antonyms and opposites of red herring, grouped by meaning.
Noun — Something introduced into an argument, investigation or story that draws attention away from the real issue, whether by accident or on purpose.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Something introduced into an argument, investigation or story that draws attention away from the real issue, whether by accident or on purpose.
“The missing key turned out to be a red herring; the door was never locked.”
2. noun technical
In logic and debate, a fallacy in which an irrelevant point is raised to divert an argument from the question being addressed.
“Answering a question about safety by praising the workforce is a textbook red herring.”
How to use red herring
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral; common in journalism, fiction criticism and debate.
Etymology
From the strong-smelling cured fish of the third sense. The often-repeated story that such fish were dragged across trails to train or mislead hounds is disputed, and the exact route to the figurative meaning is not settled.
Full origin of red herring →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a red herring and a red flag?
A red herring pulls your attention away from the truth; a red flag points you towards a problem. One is a distraction, the other a warning, and only the similar colour connects them.
What is a red herring in a mystery novel?
It is a clue or suspect the author plants to make the reader suspect the wrong person. Good red herrings are fairly presented and fully explained by the ending, rather than simply withdrawn.
Is a red herring the same as a straw man?
No. A red herring changes the subject to something irrelevant. A straw man stays on the subject but misrepresents the opponent's position so it can be knocked down more easily.