Library / English Dictionary

RED HERRING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("red herring" is a kind of...):

deflection; deflexion; deviation; digression; divagation; diversion (a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A first draft of a prospectus; must be clearly marked to indicate that parts may be changed in the final prospectus

Example:

because some portions of the cover page are printed in red ink a preliminary prospectus is sometimes called a red herring

Synonyms:

preliminary prospectus; red herring

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("red herring" is a kind of...):

course catalog; course catalogue; prospectus (a catalog listing the courses offered by a college or university)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A dried and smoked herring having a reddish color

Synonyms:

red herring; smoked herring

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("red herring" is a kind of...):

herring (valuable flesh of fatty fish from shallow waters of northern Atlantic or Pacific; usually salted or pickled)

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