not able to see the forest for the trees

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Cliché allowing many details of a situation to obscure the situation as a whole. (Not able to is often expressed as can't.) The solution is obvious. You missed it because you can't see the forest for the trees. She suddenly realized that she hadn't been able to see the forest for the trees.

See also: able, forest, see, tree

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not able
not able to call time own
not able to get for love or money
not able to go on
not able to help
not able to make anything out
not able to make head or tail of
not able to see the forest for the trees
not able to stomach
not able to wait
Not again!
not agree with
not all is cracked up to be
not all it is cracked up to be
Not always

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