can't see the wood for the trees

can't see the wood for the trees
British, American & Australian, American & Australian if someone can't see the wood for the trees, they are unable to understand what is important in a situation because they are giving too much attention to details.

After you've spent years researching a single topic you get to a point where you can't see the wood for the trees.


New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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  • can't\ see\ the\ wood\ for\ the\ trees — • can t see the forest for the trees • can t see the wood for the trees • can t see the woods for the trees v. phr. To be unable to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts; criticize small things and not see the value or… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • can't\ see\ the\ forest\ for\ the\ trees — • can t see the forest for the trees • can t see the wood for the trees • can t see the woods for the trees v. phr. To be unable to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts; criticize small things and not see the value or… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • can't\ see\ the\ woods\ for\ the\ trees — • can t see the forest for the trees • can t see the wood for the trees • can t see the woods for the trees v. phr. To be unable to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts; criticize small things and not see the value or… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • can't see the wood for the trees — or[can t see the woods for the trees] or[can t see the forest for the trees] {v. phr.} To be unable to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts; criticize small things and not see the value or the aim of the future… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • can't see the wood for the trees — or[can t see the woods for the trees] or[can t see the forest for the trees] {v. phr.} To be unable to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts; criticize small things and not see the value or the aim of the future… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • can't see the wood for the trees —    If someone can t see the wood for the trees, they are so concentrated on the details that they can t see the situation as a whole.     The new manager found the situation so complicated that he couldn t see the wood for the trees …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • can't see the woodfor the trees —    If someone can t see the wood for the trees, they are so concentrated on the details that they can t see the situation as a whole.     The new manager found the situation so complicated that he couldn t see the wood for the trees …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • someone can't see the wood for the trees — someone can’t see the wood for the trees british informal phrase used for saying that someone cannot understand what is important in a situation because they are thinking too much about small details Thesaurus: not showing careful thought or good …   Useful english dictionary

  • wood for the trees — (UK) If someone can t see the wood for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • wood for the trees — (UK)    If someone can t see the wood for the trees, they get so caught up in small details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

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