So busy with the tree, that we missed the forest?

[nq:1]I am trying to find the origin of this very common expression: "We are too close to the tree to see the forest" and variants.[/nq]
Dunno the origin, but in the US it's usually "can't see the forest for the trees", and FWIG in the UK it's usually "can't see the wood for the trees" (yes?).

[nq:2]I am trying to find the origin of this very common expression: "We are too close to the tree to see the forest" and variants.[/nq]
[nq:1]Dunno the origin, but in the US it's usually "can't see the forest for the trees", and FWIG in the UK it's usually "can't see the wood for the trees" (yes?).[/nq]
There is a fairly thorough discussion, quoting sources, at

[nq:2]I am trying to find the origin of this very common expression: "We are too close to the tree to see the forest" and variants.[/nq]
[nq:1]Dunno the origin, but in the US it's usually "can't see the forest for the trees", and FWIG in the UK it's usually "can't see the wood for the trees" (yes?).[/nq]
The UK version with "the wood for (the) trees" was recorded as a proverb in John Heywo

[nq:1]I am trying to find the origin of this very common expression: "We are too close to the tree to see the forest" and variants. -Ramon F. Herrera[/nq]
The English "can't see the forest for the trees" is quite old; it was apparently a cliche by the time "ye can not see the wood for trees" was recorded in Heywood's "Proverbs": 1546.
What other languages have a similar expression?

[nq:1]The UK version with "the wood for (the) trees" was recorded as a proverb in John Heywood's 1546 collection. Here ... seene the Wood for Trees. 1751 Affect. Narr. H.M.S. Wager 92 This was like, not seeing the Wood for Trees.[/nq]
Shouldn't that last one be "This was SO like, not seeing the Wood for Trees"?

Michael West
Melbourne, Australia

[nq:1]The English "can't see the forest for the trees" is quite old; it was apparently a cliche by the time "ye can not see the wood for trees" was recorded in Heywood's "Proverbs": 1546. What other languages have a similar expression?[/nq]
I've seen "If you want to know about water, don't ask a fish" attributed as a "Chinese" proverb. It has a similar, though not identical, meaning; however I

[nq:2]1751 Affect. Narr. H.M.S. Wager 92 This was like, not seeing the Wood for Trees.[/nq]
[nq:1]Shouldn't that last one be "This was SO like, not seeing the Wood for Trees"?[/nq]
No. It should be:
"I was like: 'You SO can't see the wood for the trees?'", with the "?" indicating a wholly inappropriate rising intonation.

Mike M

[nq:2]I am trying to find the origin of this very ... tree to see the forest" and variants. -Ramon F. Herrera[/nq]
[nq:1]The English "can't see the forest for the trees" is quite old; it was apparently a cliche by the time "ye can not see the wood for trees" was recorded in Heywood's "Proverbs": 1546. What other languages have a similar expression?[/nq]
French has "Les arbres cachent la fo

[nq:2]The English "can't see the forest for the trees" is ... Heywood's "Proverbs": 1546. What other languages have a similar expression?[/nq]
[nq:1]I've seen "If you want to know about water, don't ask a fish" attributed as a "Chinese" proverb.[/nq]
"Slave is an Ephebian word. In Om we have no word for slave," said Vorbis.
"So I understand," said the Tyrant. "I imagine that fish have

[nq:2]I am trying to find the origin of this very ... tree to see the forest" and variants. -Ramon F. Herrera[/nq]
[nq:1]The English "can't see the forest for the trees" is quite old; it was apparently a cliche by the time "ye can not see the wood for trees" was recorded in Heywood's "Proverbs": 1546. What other languages have a similar expression?[/nq]
But let's not leave the root meaning