red herring
nounUK /ˌred ˈherɪŋ/
US /ˌred ˈherɪŋ/
Something that tricks you into looking the wrong way.
The detective ignored the red herring and found the real clue.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A smoked fish that is red in color.
We bought a red herring at the fish market for breakfast.
3. A topic used to change the subject in an argument.
Bringing up the weather was just a red herring to avoid the real issue.
4. A false clue in a story or puzzle.
The author planted a red herring to keep readers guessing until the end.