Can't see the wood for the trees

[jack]

Poll #14402 Can't see the wood for the trees

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 28

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I always assumed "Can't see the wood for the trees" meant

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Can't see the forest because I'm too busy looking at the trees
25 (89.3%)

Can't see what they're made of because I'm too busy looking at the trees
1 (3.6%)

Both at different times
0 (0.0%)

Deliberately ambiguous
1 (3.6%)

As above, but now you mention it, I think differently
0 (0.0%)

Other
2 (7.1%)

Comment:

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I always interpreted this one way, but a friend had always thought of it completely differently, and I realised, I couldn't remember if the times I'd heard it, my interpretation was clearly intended, or was just how I happened to hear it first and then it got stuck in my mind.

Comments

[adrian_turtle]

This is the first time I've ever seen "can't see the wood for the trees." I encounter "can't see the forest for the trees" very commonly, and "can't see the trees for the forest" occasionally.