Expertlatin
An expression used of someone who is too involved in the details of a problem to look at the situation as a whole: “The congressman became so involved in the wording of his bill that he couldn't see the forest for the trees; he did not realize that the bill could never pass.”
- What does can't see the wood for the trees mean?
- IS can't see the forest for the trees an idiom?
- Where does the phrase can t see the wood for the trees come from?
What does can't see the wood for the trees mean?
idiom. British. : to not understand or appreciate a larger situation, problem, etc., because one is considering only a few parts of it.
IS can't see the forest for the trees an idiom?
This is an idiomatic phrase that brings to light an opinion that some major information (the entire forest) is being missed, and that perhaps it is due to either confusion and lack of understanding, or possibly even selfishness.
Where does the phrase can t see the wood for the trees come from?
The origin is actually from a place called Bath, in England. It refers to a concourse of houses that were designed by the architect John Wood. There was a tree planted directly in front of these houses, and it grew quite large. So people began to exclaim: "You can't see the Wood for the tree!"
