red herring

[luhard01]

where does the phrase 'red herring' originate from and what does it mean

[anneduncan]

The phrase "drawing a red herring across the path" means trying to divert attention from the main question by some side issue. A red herring (i.e. one dired, smoked and salted) drawn across a fox's path destroys the scent and sets the hounds at fault. From Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. No reference to origin in this dictionary.