not see the forest for the trees

idiom

US
: to not understand or appreciate a larger situation, problem, etc., because one is considering only a few parts of it

Examples of not see the forest for the trees in a Sentence

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Some vendors who recently have been forced to hire a SQIL might not see the forest for the trees; possibly interpreting the program as either punitive, surveilling or both. Steve Tengler, Forbes, 26 May 2021

Dictionary Entries Near not see the forest for the trees

Cite this Entry

“Not see the forest for the trees.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20see%20the%20forest%20for%20the%20trees. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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