not able to see the forest for the trees
not able to see the forest for the trees
Unable or unwilling to see, understand, or focus on a situation in its entirety due to being preoccupied with minor details. I just feel like he hasn't been able to see the forest for the trees on this project, getting hung up on the most mundane details at the expense of our overall productivity. If you really can't tell that the president's actions are all working toward the greater good of the country, then you're just not able to see the forest for the trees.
See also: able, forest, not, see, tree
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
not able to see the forest for the trees
Cliché allowing many details of a situation to obscure the situation as a whole. (Not able to is often expressed as can't.) The solution is obvious. You missed it because you can't see the forest for the trees. She suddenly realized that she hadn't been able to see the forest for the trees.
See also: able, forest, not, see, tree
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- not able to see the wood for the trees
- not see the wood for the trees
- cannot see the wood for the trees
- can't see the forest for the trees
- can't see the wood for the trees
- forest
- monty
- the full monty
- the whole jimbang
- the whole jingbang