see the forest for the trees
Formssees the forest for the trees, seeing the forest for the trees, saw the forest for the trees, seen the forest for the trees
- 1To notice the big picture instead of only the small details, usually said of someone who can't.
Like standing so close to a painting that you only see the brush marks.
Our manager argues about every comma and can't see the forest for the trees.
The team was so busy fixing tiny problems that nobody could see the forest for the trees.
Note
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Origin
The English proverb was recorded by John Heywood in 1546.