can't see the forest for the trees

Cannot see, understand, or focus on a situation in its entirety due to being preoccupied with minor details. The way he's obsessing over one doorknob when we're renovating the entire house makes me think that he can't see the forest for the trees.

can't see the forest for the trees

Also, can't see the wood for the trees. Focus only on small details and fail to understand larger plans or principles, as in Alex argues about petty cash and overlooks the budget-he can't see the forest for the trees . This expression was already a proverb in John Heywood's 1546 collection.

See also: forest, see, tree

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

See also:

cannot see the wood for the trees
can't see the wood for the trees
forest
not see the wood for the trees
not able to see the forest for the trees
not able to see the wood for the trees
slicker than snot on a doorknob
down to (someone or something)
down to somebody/something
until (one's) dying day

References in periodicals archive

We are getting walled in, drinking bottled water, and we can't see the forest for the trees.

Woody Harrelson: acting on his convictions

Such is the case with the urban forest: Sometimes, we can't see the forest for the trees.

Global problems, local solutions: measuring the value of the urban forest

Sometimes just a patch will do, for in words of this stature, you often can't see the forest for the trees.

Serious DBH

词组	can't see the forest for the trees
释义	can't see the forest for the trees can't see the forest for the trees Cannot see, understand, or focus on a situation in its entirety due to being preoccupied with minor details. The way he's obsessing over one doorknob when we're renovating the entire house makes me think that he can't see the forest for the trees. See also: forest, see, tree Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. can't see the forest for the trees Also, can't see the wood for the trees. Focus only on small details and fail to understand larger plans or principles, as in Alex argues about petty cash and overlooks the budget-he can't see the forest for the trees . This expression was already a proverb in John Heywood's 1546 collection. See also: forest, see, tree The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. See also: cannot see the wood for the trees can't see the wood for the trees forest not see the wood for the trees not able to see the forest for the trees not able to see the wood for the trees slicker than snot on a doorknob down to (someone or something) down to somebody/something until (one's) dying day References in periodicals archive We are getting walled in, drinking bottled water, and we can't see the forest for the trees. Woody Harrelson: acting on his convictions Such is the case with the urban forest: Sometimes, we can't see the forest for the trees. Global problems, local solutions: measuring the value of the urban forest Sometimes just a patch will do, for in words of this stature, you often can't see the forest for the trees. Serious DBH
随便看	take someone to the cleaners take (someone) to the mat take someone to the woodshed take (someone) under (one's) wing take someone under your wing take something take something amiss take (something) amiss take something as/for gospel/gospel truth take something as gospel take (something) as gospel take (something) as it comes take something as it comes take something as read take (something) as (the) gospel truth take something by storm take (something) by the throat take (something) down a thousand take (something) for a drive take (something) for a ride take (something) for a spin take (something) for gospel take something for granted take (something) for (the) gospel truth take (something) further