red herring
noun
1
- a dried smoked herring, which is turned red by the smoke熏鲱鱼。
2
- something, especially a clue, which is or is intended to be misleading or distracting转移注意力之物（尤指线索）：
the book is fast-paced, exciting, and full of red herrings.
书的节奏快, 情节紧张, 处处是故意误导人的线索。
ORIGIN: so named from the practice of using the scent of red herring in training hounds.