If you say that someone can’t see the wood for the trees, you mean that they are so involved in the details of something that they forget or do not realize the real purpose or importance of the thing as a whole.This form of expression is used in British English; in American English, the form is “not see the forest for the trees”. “not see the wood for the trees” 顾名思义就是“只看到树木，不见树林”，用来形容那些过于专注于细节，而忘记事情整体目标或者整体重要性的情形。美式英语中，也说成not see the forest for the trees。

Examples:

His fairness and clarity of vision often helped those who could not see the wood for the trees reach the correct decision. 他的公正和对远见的清晰洞察经常帮助那些只见眼前细节而不顾整体的人达成正确决策。

We are so much involved in detail that we are reduced to almost total inability to see the wood for the trees. 我们太纠缠于细节，以至于我们几乎失去看清整体大局的能力。

Today’s Quiz:

Which of the following cities are not build on a flood plain?

A. LondonB. Shanghai C. St Petersburg

D. Los Angeles

昨日答案：C