red herring

noun

Updated on: 26 Jul 2017

Definition of red herring

1 :a herring cured by salting and slow smoking to a dark brown color

[from the practice of drawing a red herring across a trail to confuse hunting dogs]

:something that distracts attention from the real issue

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Examples of red herring in a Sentence

The argument is a red herring. It actually has nothing to do with the issue.
The plot of the mystery was full of red herrings.

Did You Know?

Believe it or not, red herring has as much to do with hunting dogs as with brightly colored fish. Here's how: A herring is a soft-finned bony fish. People who like to eat herring have long preserved them by salting and slowly smoking them. That process makes a herring turn red or dark brown - and gives them a very strong smell. Dogs love to sniff such smelly treats, a fact that makes the fish a perfect diversion for anyone trying to distract hunting dogs from the trail of their quarry. The practice of using preserved fish to confuse hunting dogs led to the use of the term red herring for anything that diverts attention from the issue at hand.

First Known Use of red herring

15th century

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Financial Definition of RED HERRING

red herring

noun

What It Is

A red herring is a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by a company that intends to make a public equity offering. The red herring is a rough draft of the company's prospectus and includes a description of the company's business, financial condition, strategy, management, litigation and risk factors.

How It Works

A red herring receives its name from the prominent disclosure statement in red letters stating that the company is not attempting to sell its securities prior to the SEC's approval.

Information within a red herring changes either because the SEC requires it or the issuer chooses to alter or add to the existing disclosure. After the SEC approves the document, the red herring becomes the final prospectus and can be used to solicit orders from investors. The definition of red herring on InvestingAnswers

Why It Matters

Underwriters often use red herrings to gauge interest in their offerings. They are often the first look investors get at a new issuer.

Source: Investing Answers

RED HERRING Defined for English Language Learners

red herring

noun

Definition of red herring for English Language Learners

: something unimportant that is used to stop people from noticing or thinking about something important

Law Dictionary

red herring

noun red her·ring \ ˌred-ˈher-iŋ \

legal Definition of red herring

:a preliminary prospectus (as for the sale of securities) that is not yet approved by the appropriate body (as the Securities and Exchange Commission)