What is the meaning and origin of the expression “red herring”?
(Ranjeet Gujati, Patna) Sometimes when you are talking to someone, he/she asks you some very embarrassing questions. What do you normally do in these circumstances? You say something which you hope will distract his/her attention. You try to get the individual to talk about something else. This ploy that you use to divert the individual’s attention is called a red herring. A “red herring” is normally used by people to divert the attention of others from something important; from the central point that is being considered. And who are the people who are well-known for introducing a red herring every now and then? Politicians, of course! Here are a few examples. * The Minister said that he wouldn’t answer the question because it involved national security; but that was a red herring to avoid a discussion of the terrible mistakes he had made. * The detectives followed all the leads, but unfortunately they were all red herrings. * The debate was getting really interesting, when unfortunate
