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can't see the forest for the trees

To miss the major things while only seeing the minor details; to overlook the entire situation due to focusing on small aspects

Etymology:

  • A person in the landscape focuses so carefully on each individual tree and its branch, leaf and twig that he/she misses the charm of the huge forest he/she is standing in. If someone asks that person about forest, he/she might answer, "What forest? I only noticed trees over there." Therefore, this saying means to be unable to see the entire scenery while paying attention on a smaller part.
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Tania can’t see the forest for the trees as she always tries to catch my mistakes yet fails to see my sincerity.

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Submitted on February 25, 2019

Modified by TriplePurple on December 17, 2023

Translation

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ไม่สามารถเห็นป่าสำหรับต้นไม้

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to can't see the forest for the trees

can I use your phonecan't get enoughcan't put the words back into one&…cat's pajamascan't do right for doing wrongCan't Hit the Side of a Barncan't helpcan of wormscan you help mecan you tell uscan't seemcan you hear me looking at youcan't seemcan't make ends meet

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    "can't see the forest for the trees." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/can't-see-the-forest-for-the-trees_44542>.

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