noun

red herring

red HERR-ing

Red herring (noun) means something introduced into an argument, investigation or story that draws attention away from the real issue, whether by accident or on purpose. Example: “The missing key turned out to be a red herring; the door was never locked.”

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."

"Bringing up his tax affairs is a red herring — the question is whether he lied to parliament."

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."

archaic A herring cured by smoking and salting until it turns reddish-brown.

"Barrels of red herring were shipped inland through the winter."

How to use red herring

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething that pulls your attention away from what actually matters.

When to use it

Neutral; common in journalism, fiction criticism and debate.

Memory tip

Usually used with "be": the alibi was a red herring.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

red flag → straw man MacGuffin → non sequitur →

Common pairings

a complete red herring turn out to be a red herring plant a red herring that's a red herring

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Test yourself on “red herring” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The missing key turned out to be a _____; the door was never locked.

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.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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distraction diversion decoy smokescreen false trail irrelevant conclusion ignoratio elenchi kipper bloater

Related words

entertainment trap recreation hobby amusement bait distraction dummy

Rhymes for red herring

herring referring conferring transferring

See all rhymes for 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.

What is the meaning of red herring?

"red herring" (noun) means something introduced into an argument, investigation or story that draws attention away from the real issue, whether by accident or on purpose.

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