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Definition of a red herring

red herring

noun

  • an argument used to distract someone from the real issue
    Some people say that using ethanol as a fuel is just a red herring distracting people from the real issues of oil dependency and that what we really need is a complete replacement for fossil based fuels.

    Last edited on Dec 16 2010. Submitted by Storm R. from Northern, San Diego, CA, USA on Aug 09 2008.

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Other terms relating to 'red':

Definitions include: menstrual period.
Definitions include: angry, pissed off
Definitions include: an emergency situation.
Definitions include: a strain of marijuana
Definitions include: see Aunt Flo and cousin Red.
Definitions include: to give oral sex to a woman on her period, for the first time.
Definitions include: something that gets on your nerves or bugs you.
Definitions include: in debt.
Definitions include: interjection of surprise, alarm, etc.
Definitions include: to have a great time around town.
Definitions include: a strain of marijuana
Definitions include: figuratively, a very small amount.
Definitions include: mean; spiteful; cruel.
Definitions include: a person who is so intense in his/her competitive spirit that they are constantly on the verge of boiling over.
Definitions include: emergency, or a situation that needs an urgent response.

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