Question

Red Herring something deliberately misleading to divert your attention from the main subject; something irrelevant that confuses an issue

Accepted Answer

In the scavenger hunt, 'See the bee in the old oak tree,' was a false clue, a red herring to throw us off the trail. A red herring is a fish that has been pickled (preserved in vinegar and spices) in such a way that it turns reddish. It has a strong smell. Centuries ago it was used to teach hunting dogs to follow a trail. It was dragged on the ground and the dogs followed its scent. Later, people who hated hunting dragged a red herring across the path of the fox the dogs were chasing. The dogs would get confused, stop following the fox, and follow the smell of the herring. Sometimes escaping crooks also used red herrings to cover up their own scents so the bloodhounds couldn't find them. "Red herring" has been a popular idiom since the 19th century.

Idiom	Red Herring
Example	In the scavenger hunt, 'See the bee in the old oak tree,' was a false clue, a red herring to throw us off the trail.
Meaning	something deliberately misleading to divert your attention from the main subject; something irrelevant that confuses an issue
Origin	A red herring is a fish that has been pickled (preserved in vinegar and spices) in such a way that it turns reddish. It has a strong smell. Centuries ago it was used to teach hunting dogs to follow a trail. It was dragged on the ground and the dogs followed its scent. Later, people who hated hunting dragged a red herring across the path of the fox the dogs were chasing. The dogs would get confused, stop following the fox, and follow the smell of the herring. Sometimes escaping crooks also used red herrings to cover up their own scents so the bloodhounds couldn't find them. "Red herring" has been a popular idiom since the 19th century.

Red Herring Dogs Trail Hunting Follow Dragged Scavenger