miss the forest for the trees
phrase
US
: to not understand or appreciate a larger situation, problem, etc., because one is considering only a few parts of it
Cite this Entry
“Miss the forest for the trees.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miss%20the%20forest%20for%20the%20trees. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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