Red Herring Edit Meaning

1.

In novels, usually mystery novels, a "red herring" is an extraneous character meant to divert the reader's attention from the true killer/robber/etc. It is usually a logical choice for the culprit, but ends up being nothing.

I thought Hampton was the killer, but he was a total red herring. It was Muldoon.

2.

Something used to divert attention form the real matter, issue or object(a dead red herring was often used to confuse or test the scent of a hunting dog)

That kid was just a red herring to prevent his friends from being caught in the act.

See ploy

3.

Red herrings were often used by jail birds to mislead hound dogs that were tracking them.

The expression "red herring" refers to something that is misleading.

His wedding ring is a red herring, he is definately gay.

See mislead, fool, lie, trick

4.

Herrings put into a tub with salt or brine, later spitted on sharp wooden spits, and hung up in a chimney to be smoked and dried. Such preserved fish would keep for months (and indeed they were transported in barrels to provide protein on long sea voyages) but were inedible in this state and needed to be soaked to soften them and remove the salt before they could be cooked.

Do I smell a rat?

One key characteristic of red herrings, apart from their colour, was their strong smell, so much so that one use for them on occasion was to train hounds to follow a scent.

a deliberately misleading object

Neither fish nor flesh, nor good red herring

5.

technique used by politicians, often conservatives, to distract voters' attention away from real and true issues that need immediate address.

Reporter: "President Bush, we have had more casualties in Iraq this month than in any other month."

President Bush: "Casualties, man gay people want to get married!"

Commentator: "Wow, did you see that red herring Bush just threw out there? Amazing stuff folks!"

See politico, politicians, neocon, republican, distraction

6.

A girl's excuse to not engage in intercourse because she feels as if she might be getting her red tide soon. This is the equivalent of the logical fallacy.

Yeah dude we ended up having sex even though she attempted to give me the "red herring" excuse.

See period, sex, logic, fallacy, excuse

7.

a slang phrase used to describe a girls pussy when she is having her period and it also stinks like a dead fish.

I was gonna fuck my girl last night, but she's got a nasty case of red herring.

See pussy, period, fish, girl