you compare one tree to an entire forest .........what does that mean?
2007-06-15 12:48:28 · 5 answers · asked by Bella Swan ~I Wish~ 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
The meaning is obvious:
Mistaking a Tree for the forest.
You refer to a particular point / incident / happening / idea / thought but you don't have a picture of the whole issue.
You jump to a hasty conclusion & try to compare without taking all aspects of the matter into consideration.
Hope, this gives you a clear understanding of / message in the saying
2007-06-16 05:41:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cannot determine the behaviour of an individual to that from an entire crowd. In other words, a single thing is not representative of the whole collective group.
The other expression, "can't see the forest for the trees" means that one is so focused on minute, small things, that you lose the meaning, or goal of the whole picture or concept.
2007-06-15 13:05:36 · answer #2 · answered by phantomlimb7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe you mean, " You can't see the forest through the trees." It means you don't get the whole picture. You're only getting bits and pieces of what someone is trying to say to you.
2007-06-15 12:54:54 · answer #3 · answered by Irish 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is there more to this comparison? I think it means that one individual tree is not representative of an entire forest.
2007-06-15 12:51:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are focusing on the details and not looking at the big picture. You are myopic.
-MM
2007-06-15 13:26:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋