The term “red herring” is frequently used, but its origins are often obscured by the figurative meaning it has acquired. Many people are unsure if the phrase refers to an actual fish or is purely an idiom. This confusion stems from the fact that the term is rooted in a tangible, historical product of preservation. To understand the phrase as a device for misdirection, one must first explore the physical reality of the fish and the historical practices that gave rise to the metaphor.
The Literal Answer: What is a Red Herring Fish
A “red herring” is not a distinct species of fish, but rather a common Atlantic herring that has undergone an intense curing process. The preparation involves heavily salting the fish, often in brine, followed by a long, slow period of cold-smoking that can last for several weeks. This extensive preservation technique was historically necessary to make the fish shelf-stable for long-distance transport before the advent of refrigeration.
The physical alteration resulting from this process is dramatic, giving the fish its namesake characteristics. Exposure to smoke and salt causes the flesh to take on a tough, dry texture and a distinct reddish-brown color, which is where the “red” in the name originates. More significant than the color is the intensely pungent, persistent odor imparted by the curing process. This exceptionally strong scent provided the foundation for the figurative use of the term, as it could easily overpower fainter smells.
The Origins of the Figurative Phrase
The figurative meaning of a “red herring” is closely tied to the strong scent of the cured fish and its historical application in hunting practices. One primary historical theory suggests the pungent fish was used to train young scent hounds. A trail of the red herring was dragged along the ground, allowing the dogs to practice following a powerful scent before being introduced to the fainter trail of a fox or hare. This method taught the dogs to focus on the desired scent despite overwhelming distractions.
A more sensational, though debated, theory suggests the fish was used to deliberately distract hounds from a true quarry. In this scenario, the strong-smelling herring would be dragged across a trail to divert the dogs and throw them off the original scent line. This practice was sometimes attributed to political protestors or poachers attempting to disrupt a formal hunt. However, the popularity of the phrase as an idiom is more precisely traced to a specific written account.
The figurative meaning was widely popularized by the radical English journalist William Cobbett in 1807, who used the concept as a political metaphor. Cobbett recounted an apocryphal story from his youth where he used a red herring to successfully divert hounds from chasing a hare. He employed this story to criticize the English press, suggesting they had been misled by false reports regarding Napoleon’s defeat. This political application cemented the idea of the “red herring” as a deliberate, misleading distraction in public discourse.
Modern Context and Usage
In contemporary language, the term “red herring” functions as a rhetorical device used to divert attention away from the central topic or argument. It refers to a piece of information or a clue that is relevant on the surface but ultimately irrelevant to the matter at hand. The intent is to shift focus and lead an audience toward a false conclusion.
The concept is frequently used as a literary technique, particularly in mystery novels and detective fiction, to maintain suspense and mislead the reader. Authors intentionally introduce false suspects or misleading evidence to distract the audience from the true perpetrator. In political and logical contexts, a red herring is classified as a relevance fallacy. This represents an argument that introduces an extraneous issue to avoid addressing the original point, directly inheriting the historical association of the cured fish with deliberate misdirection.