red herring

[Archived Topic]

Where does the term "red herring" come from?

Submitted by Paul Maddalena (Clark - U.S.A.)

[Jonathon Green]

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.