Complete Definition of "see the forest for the trees"

English

Verb
see the forest for the trees

  1. idiom To discern an overall pattern from a mass of detail; to see the bigger picture, or the broader, more general situation. Generally used in the negative.

#: Smith is good at detail, but can't see the forest for the trees.

Alternative spellings
see the forest through the trees
can't see the wood for the trees
See also
forest
gestalt
tree

Revision and Credits for"see the forest for the trees"
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