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Red Herring (The)

of a novel is a hint or statement in the early part of the story to put the reader on the wrong scent. In all detective stories a red herring is trailed across the scent. The allusion is to trailing a red herring on the ground to destroy the scent and set the dogs at fault. A “red herring” is a herring dried and smoked.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Red Cock
Red Comyn
Red Cross (The)
Red Cross Knight
Red Feathers (The)
Red Flag (A)
Red Hand of Ulster
Red-handed
Red Hat (The)
Red Heads
Red Herring (The)
Red Herring
Red Indians (of Newfoundland)
Red Kettle (A)
Red-laced Jacket
Red Land (The)
Red-lattice Phrases
Red Laws (The)
Red-letter Day
Red Man
Red Men