{"id":8759,"date":"2022-09-08T00:58:25","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T00:58:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=8759"},"modified":"2022-09-08T00:59:02","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T00:59:02","slug":"cant-see-the-forest-for-the-trees-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/cant-see-the-forest-for-the-trees-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Can't See the Forest for The Trees  \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever been in a situation where you were so focused on the details that you could not see the big picture? Maybe you have come across someone who has a singular focus on a small, but unimportant detail. If you have, then this phrase is likely to resonate with you. Read on to learn more. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n<h2>Meaning<\/h2>\n<p><strong>It's a metaphor often used to describe feeling overwhelmed or bogged down by details to the point where the big picture is no longer clear. The phrase is also used to describe people so close to a situation that they can't see it objectively. For example, you might say this phrase if you're working on a project and feel like you're getting nowhere. The phrase is used when someone needs to step back and look at the situation as a whole.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The phrase can also be used more literally. For example, if you're standing in the middle of a forest, it can be hard to see the forest for the trees. This literal meaning is often used when someone is feeling overwhelmed by details. In short, not being able to see the whole story or picture due to focusing on small points is the meaning of this phrase.<\/p>\n<h2>Example Usage<\/h2>\n<p>\"Julia, you've been working on that report for days now and you're still not done. You can't see the forest for the Trees!\"<\/p>\n<p>\"I think he's looking at one aspect of the situation and can't see the whole picture.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"He's so wrapped up in his own problems, he can't see the forest for the Trees.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"My friends keep telling me I need to stop worrying so much and just relax. I guess I can't see the Forest for the Trees.\"<\/p>\n<h2>Origin<\/h2>\n<p>The phrase is of unknown origin, but it was first recorded in print in 1546. Likely, the term was around long before it was first written down. The earliest known use of the phrase in print Renaissance proverb collection was published in London in 1546. It was written by John Heywood and included this proverb. In recent times, the phrase has been used by many different people, including politicians and writers.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Can&#039;t See the Forest For the Trees Meaning | English Idioms\" width=\"512\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Zmp0JKM6sKo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Phrases Similar to Can't See the Forest for the Trees<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.<\/li>\n<li>It's like finding a needle in a haystack.<\/li>\n<li>Too many cooks spoil the broth.<\/li>\n<li>Can\u2019t see the wood for the trees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Phrases opposite to Can't See the Forest for the Trees<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Don't sweat the small stuff<\/li>\n<li>To live or be in an ivory tower<\/li>\n<li>To see the big picture<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What is The Correct Saying?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The phrase \"can't see the forest for the trees\" is the right way to say it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Ways People May Incorrectly Say Can't See the Forest for the Trees<\/h2>\n<p>Most of the time, people use this phrase correctly. However, there are some ways that people may incorrectly say it. For example, someone might say, \"I can't see the forest through the trees,\" meaning they can't see the big picture. Another way that people may incorrectly use this phrase is by saying, \"I can't see the trees for the forest.\"<\/p>\n<h2>Acceptable Ways to Phrase Can't See the Forest for the Trees<\/h2>\n<p>The phrase can be used figuratively to describe a person too close to a situation to see. This person is so focused on the details that they can't see the forest for the trees. Some examples of proper usage are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The whole research project is derailed, but they keep asking for updates. They really can\u2019t see the forest for the trees.<\/li>\n<li>You want to vote to pass this bill but can\u2019t see the forest for the trees as there are not enough people to pass it anyway.<\/li>\n<li>Times are hard when the management really can\u2019t see the forest for the trees. The problem is not hours, its employee morale.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-2\">Have you ever been in a situation where you were so focused on the details that you could not see the big picture? Maybe you have come across someone who has a singular focus on a small, but unimportant detail. If you have, then this phrase is likely to resonate with you. Read on to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8759"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8759"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8762,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8759\/revisions\/8762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}