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red herring Definition

red herring

noun

  1. a smoked herring
  2. something used to divert attention from the basic issue: from the practice of drawing a herring across the trace in hunting, to distract the hounds
  3. Finance, Informal a preliminary prospectus, subject to amendment, for an issue of securities: from the notice printed on the front in red ink

red herring Finance Definition

A preliminary prospectus issued by a company that is planning a public securities offering. The term comes from the bright red letters that are printed on the cover and the fact that the prospectus has not been approved by the SEC. See also prospectus.

red herring Law Definition

n

A topic that may or may not have general significance, factual or legal, but that is of absolutely no relevance to the question or matter at hand.

red herring Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • throw: Every now and then you'll be thrown a red herring as well.
  • become: In such contexts, research into the safety issues becomes a red herring.
  • chase: This paper argues that in many instances British were chasing red herrings.
  • introduce: Bravo proceeds to introduce another red herring: True prophets are not guaranteed supernatural protection.
  • include: Match them with the names given below, which include eight red herrings.
  • drop: The mystery unfolds at a languid pace, dropping a few red herrings along the way.

Adjective modifier

  • complete: This line of argument is a complete red herring.
  • few: There is a distinct feeling the entire computer industry has been fed quite a few rather expensive red herrings over the years!
  • many: There are many red herrings in these books, together with information that the reader just cannot get to.
  • more: What follows are missing persons, missing money, and more red herrings than a well-stocked lake.
  • big: That's the biggest red herring of all time.
  • total: The second point is the work permit business is a complete and total red herring.

Preposition: in

debate: The industry's campaign against 1 % charge caps is a red herring in the debate about the savings gap.

Browse dictionary entries near red herring

  1. ‹ red heat
  2. ‹ red hat
  3. ‹ red-handed
  4. ‹ red gum
  5. ‹ Red Guard
  6. ‹ red grouse
  7. ‹ red giant
  8. ‹ red fox
  9. ‹ red-flannel hash
  10. ‹ red flag
  1. red hind ›
  2. red-hot ›
  3. Red Indian ›
  4. red ink ›
  5. red lead ›
  6. red-letter ›
  7. red light ›
  8. red-light district ›
  9. red line ›
  10. red man ›