Lexic.us

Definition of Red herring

1. Noun. Any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue.

2. Noun. A dried and smoked herring having a reddish color.

3. Noun. A first draft of a prospectus; must be clearly marked to indicate that parts may be changed in the final prospectus. "Because some portions of the cover page are printed in red ink a preliminary prospectus is sometimes called a red herring"

Definition of Red herring

1. Noun. A smoke-cured and salt-brined herring strong enough to turn the flesh red; a type of kipper. ¹

2. Noun. (figuratively) A clue or information that is or is intended to be misleading, that diverts attention from a question. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Red Herring

red ginger red goatfish red goods red goosefoot red gram red grouse red guard red guards red gum red hair

red half-moon red haw red heat red helleborine red hepatisation red herring (current term) red herrings red hot red huckleberry red induration

red infarct red ink red jungle fowl red juniper red kangaroo red kangaroos red kauri red kite red knot red lauan

Literary usage of Red herring

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable: Giving the Derivation, Source, Or Origin of by Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (1898)
"red herring (77.0 of a novel is а hint or statement in the early part of the story ... In all detective stories a red herring is trailed across the scent. ..."

2. The Harleian Miscellany: Or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and by William Oldys, John Malham (1809)
"Another drudge of the pudding house (all whose lawful means to live by throughout the whole year will scarce purchase him a red herring) says I might as ..."

3. The Harleian Miscellany: Or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and by William Oldys, John Malham (1809)
"Another drudge of the pudding house (all whose lawful means to live by throughout the whole year will scarce purchase him a red herring) says I might as ..."

4. The Harleian Miscellany; Or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and by William Oldys, John Malham (1809)
"Another drudge of the pudding house (all '-whose lawful means to live by throughout the whole year will scarce purchase him a red herring) says I might as ..."

5. A Glossary: Or, Collection of Words, Phrases, Names, and Allusions to by Robert Nares (1859)
"He that eats nothing but a red herring to-day shrill ne'er be broiled for the devil's rasher ; a pilcher, ..."

6. Erasmus Darwin by Ernst Krause, Charles Darwin (1880)
"... 12 Dumplin, red Herring, Bread and Cheese; two to ye Church ; read a Lent Sermon at Six; and at Seven Appel ..."

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