can't see the wood for the trees
- 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 achievement. * /Teachers sometimes notice language errors and do not see the good ideas in a composition; they cannot see the woods for the trees./ * /The voters defeated a bond issue for the new school because they couldn't see the forest for the trees; they thought of their taxes rather than of their children's education./ * /We should think of children's growth in character and understanding more than of their little faults and misdeeds; some of us can't see the wood for the trees./
Dictionary of American idioms.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
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 — 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 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… … New idioms dictionary
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
