see the forest for the trees

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Verb 1.2 Alternative spellings 1.3 See also

[edit] English

[edit] Verb

see the forest for the trees

1. (idiomatic) 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.

[edit] Alternative spellings

• see the forest through the trees
• can't see the wood for the trees

[edit] See also

• forest
• gestalt
• gist
• tree