can't\ see\ the\ wood\ for\ the\ trees
- can't\ see\ the\ wood\ for\ the\ trees
• can't see the forest for the trees
• can't see the wood for the trees
• can't see the woods for the trees
v. phr.
To be unable to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts; criticize small things and not see the value or the aim of the future achievement.
Teachers sometimes notice language errors and do not see the good ideas in a composition; they cannot see the woods for the trees.
The voters defeated a bond issue for the new school because they couldn't see the forest for the trees; they thought of their taxes rather than of their children's education.
We should think of children's growth in character and understanding more than of their little faults and misdeeds; some of us can't see the wood for the trees.
Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань".
Оригинал: A.Маккей, М.Т.Боткер, Дж.И.Гейтс.
1997.
Look at other dictionaries:
can't see the wood for the trees — or[can t see the woods for the trees] or[can t see the forest for the trees] {v. phr.} To be unable to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts; criticize small things and not see the value or the aim of the future… … Dictionary of American idioms
can't see the wood for the trees — or[can t see the woods for the trees] or[can t see the forest for the trees] {v. phr.} To be unable to judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts; criticize small things and not see the value or the aim of the future… … Dictionary of American idioms
wood — See: CAN T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES, KNOCK ON WOOD, SAW WOOD … Dictionary of American idioms
wood — See: CAN T SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES, KNOCK ON WOOD, SAW WOOD … Dictionary of American idioms
Wood — /wood/, n. 1. Grant, 1892 1942, U.S. painter. 2. Leonard, 1860 1927, U.S. military doctor and political administrator. * * * I Hard, fibrous material formed by the accumulation of secondary xylem produced by the vascular cambium. It is the… … Universalium
Wood fuel — is wood used as fuel. The burning of wood is currently the largest use of energy derived from a solid fuel biomass. Wood fuel can be used for cooking and heating, and occasionally for fueling steam engines and steam turbines that generate… … Wikipedia
Wood pulp — is a dry fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating the fibers which make up wood. Pulp can be either fluffy or formed into thick sheets. The latter form is used if the pulp must be transported from the pulp mill to a… … Wikipedia
Wood economy — The existence of a wood economy, or more correctly, a forest economy (since in many countries a bamboo economy predominates), is a prominent matter in many developing countries as well as in many other nations with temperate climate and… … Wikipedia
Wood — Wood, n. [OE. wode, wude, AS. wudu, wiodu; akin to OHG. witu, Icel. vi?r, Dan. & Sw. ved wood, and probably to Ir. & Gael. fiodh, W. gwydd trees, shrubs.] [1913 Webster] 1. A large and thick collection of trees; a forest or grove; frequently used … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Wood acid — Wood Wood, n. [OE. wode, wude, AS. wudu, wiodu; akin to OHG. witu, Icel. vi?r, Dan. & Sw. ved wood, and probably to Ir. & Gael. fiodh, W. gwydd trees, shrubs.] [1913 Webster] 1. A large and thick collection of trees; a forest or grove; frequently … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Wood anemone — Wood Wood, n. [OE. wode, wude, AS. wudu, wiodu; akin to OHG. witu, Icel. vi?r, Dan. & Sw. ved wood, and probably to Ir. & Gael. fiodh, W. gwydd trees, shrubs.] [1913 Webster] 1. A large and thick collection of trees; a forest or grove; frequently … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
