red herring

This is the full read-only archive of the "Ask the Wordwizard" section of the original Wordwizard site. The responses to the questions originate from Jonathon Green, the compiler of the Cassell Dictionary of Slang and numerous other dictionaries.
Post Reply

red herring

Post by Archived Topic » Thu Feb 11, 1999 12:00 am

Where does the term "red herring" come from?
Submitted by Paul Maddalena (Clark - U.S.A.)
Post actions:
Signature: Topic imported and archived
Top

red herring

Post by Jonathon Green » Fri Feb 12, 1999 8:00 am

The phrase, meaning a subject intended to divert attention from the real question, comes from the country practice, now discontinued (?), of providing a run for hounds by the trailing or dragging of a dead cat, or fox, and if nothing better is available a red herring, three or four miles and then setting the dogs on the scent.
Post actions:
Signature: Jonathon Green
Top
End of topic.
Post Reply

Return to “Ask the Wordwizard Archive”