What's a "red herring"?
I heard an American public speaker saying that when he's debating with somebody, they very often have a "red herring" in order to try to distract him from the main point of the conversation, and then he made an example of somebody who, while debating with him, mentioned a past situation which had nothing to do with the (then) current situation.
So, what does it mean exactly "red herring" in a figurative sense? Does it mean generically "anything used to distract people from the main point", or, more specifically, "a reference to the past, made with the purpose of distracting people from the main point"?
And is it also a British expression?
Thank you.
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 10
1
Hi there! A red herring is a distraction from the main point, truth or real solution. The term is most commonly used when discussing a fictional plot point, in particular, mystery/crime stories. For example, Agatha Christie stories almost always contain a clue or potential culprit that/who serves as a red herring. I think it is British in origin, and from the 19th century.
1
It's something put deliberately to distract you. It needn't be something from history or even something spoken. For example, a criminal might deliberately leave a false clue to put investigators off the scent and that clue would be a red herring. A movie with lots of plot twists will have red herrings to make you think one thing and then surprise you with the twist.
1
something, especially a clue, that is or is intended to be misleading or distracting
0
Yes it is (generally) something designed to divert the attention of the other person from the main argument. I know what this means but honestly rarely, if ever, have heard anybody use this in the U.S. I don't remember where I first heard this but perhaps it was while I was in Europe. A British person can tell you if it is more common there. Cheers.
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