see the forest for the trees vs see the forest through the trees

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. 'See the forest for the trees' means to see the big picture or overall situation, while 'see the forest through the trees' means to see the details within the bigger picture. They are not interchangeable.

Last updated: March 28, 2024 • 639 views

see the forest for the trees

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to mean seeing the big picture or overall situation.

This phrase is used to describe someone who is unable to see or understand the overall situation because they are too focused on the details.

Examples:

She was so focused on the minor issues that she couldn't see the forest for the trees.
Don't get lost in the details; make sure you can see the forest for the trees.
Sometimes we need to step back and see the forest for the trees to understand the whole situation.
He tends to see the forest for the trees, missing the important details.
It's important to be able to see the forest for the trees in order to make good decisions.

Alternatives:

see the big picture
see the whole picture
see the overall situation
see the broader perspective
see the larger context

see the forest through the trees

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to mean seeing the details within the bigger picture.

This phrase is used to describe someone who is able to focus on the details within a larger situation or problem.

Examples:

She has a keen eye for detail and can see the forest through the trees.
Even though the project is complex, he can see the forest through the trees and identify the key issues.
It's important to be able to see the forest through the trees to understand the nuances of the situation.
While others may miss the details, she can see the forest through the trees.
He is able to see the forest through the trees and find solutions to complex problems.

Alternatives:

focus on the details within the bigger picture
see the nuances
see the specifics within the general
see the details within the context
see the intricacies

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see the forest for the trees vs see the forest through the trees