Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

cant-see-the-wood-for-the-trees

idiom

/kænt si ðə wʊd fɔr ðə triz/

Definition

To be unable to see the situation clearly because you are too involved in the details.

Examples

She was so busy preparing the presentation that she couldn’t see the wood for the trees and forgot to consider the audience’s needs.
When dealing with the project setbacks, he couldn’t see the wood for the trees and missed the potential solutions right in front of him.

Meaning

This phrase describes a situation where someone is so focused on the details of a problem that they cannot see the overall picture or the larger issue at hand.