Definition of «red herring»
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Views | 0 |
| Definitions | 1 |
| First seen | 2026 |
- Description
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"Red herring" is a colloquialism used to describe a piece of information or an argument that is intended to be misleading or distracting from the actual issue at hand. In casual debate or social media discourse, it is used to call out someone for bringing up irrelevant points to avoid addressing a core problem. The term suggests a level of tactical evasion or logical fallacy in the opponent's reasoning. It is frequently employed in political or legal discussions to dismiss counter-arguments as mere diversions.
- Example
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> Your bringing up Criminal liability is a red herring to distract from the ethical failure.
> The company's focus on their charity work was just a red herring to hide the environmental damage they caused.
> Don't let that red herring confuse you; the main problem is still the budget deficit.
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