an unimportant fact, idea, event, etc. that takes people’s attention away from the important ones 转移注意力的次要事实（或想法、事件等） He deliberately threw a red herring into the conversation. 他故意在对话中扔了一条红鲱鱼。
Word OriginFrom the custom of using the smell of a smoked, dried herring (which was red) to train dogs to hunt.