can't see the forest for the trees

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can't see the forest for the trees

Cannot see, understand, or focus on a situation in its entirety due to being preoccupied with minor details. The way he's obsessing over one doorknob when we're renovating the entire house makes me think that he can't see the forest for the trees.

can't see the forest for the trees

Also, can't see the wood for the trees. Focus only on small details and fail to understand larger plans or principles, as in Alex argues about petty cash and overlooks the budget-he can't see the forest for the trees . This expression was already a proverb in John Heywood's 1546 collection.

See also: forest, see, tree

References in periodicals archive ?

One literally could not see the forest for the trees.

Promoting a healthy and safe forest: forestry planning for resident camps

Idioms browser ?

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not put stock in (something)
not put your finger on something
not quite
not quite the thing
not rest on (one's) laurels
not rest on your laurels
not right in the head
not right now
not right now, thanks
not rocket science
not safe for work
not say a dicky bird
not say boo (to anyone)
not say boo to a fly
not say boo to a goose
not say/hear a dicky bird
not see (one) for dust
not see any objection
not see beyond your nose
not see beyond/past the end of your nose
not see eye to eye
not see hide nor hair of somebody/something
not see somebody for dust
not see someone for dust
not see straight
not see the forest for the trees
not see the wood for the trees
not set foot in (some place)
not set foot somewhere
not set the Thames on fire
not set the woods on fire
not set the world on fire
not shed a tear
not show (one's) face
not show face
not sit comfortably (with one)
not sit easily (with one)
not sit well (with one)
not skip a beat
not sleep a wink
not so bad
not so dusty
not so fast
not so hot
not so hot at (something)
not so much as (do something)
not so/too hot
not someone's day
not someone's keeper
not something to write home about
not stand an earthly
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Full browser ?

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not see farther than her nose
not see farther than his nose
not see farther than my nose
not see farther than one's nose
not see farther than our nose
not see farther than our noses
not see farther than the end of her nose
not see farther than the end of his nose
not see farther than the end of my nose
not see farther than the end of one's nose
not see farther than the end of our nose
not see farther than the end of our noses
not see farther than the end of their nose
not see farther than the end of their noses
not see farther than the end of your nose
not see farther than their nose
not see farther than their noses
not see farther than your nose
not see for dust
not see her for dust
not see hide nor hair of
not see hide nor hair of somebody
not see hide nor hair of somebody/something
not see hide nor hair of something
not see him for dust
not see me for dust
not see past the end of your nose
not see somebody for dust
not see someone for dust
not see straight
not see the forest for the trees
not see the point
not see the point in
not see the point in something
not see the point of
not see the point of something
not see the wood for the trees
not see them for dust
not see us for dust
not see you for dust
not select
not selective
not sensitive to
Not Separately Priced
Not Seriously Ill
not seriously injured
not set a foot wrong
not set foot
not set foot in
not set foot in (some place)
not set foot somewhere
not set the heather alight
not set the heather on fire
not set the Thames alight
not set the Thames on fire
not set the wood on fire
not set the woods on fire
not set the world alight
not set the world on fire
not setting foot
not setting foot in
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