How to Pronounce "cannot see the wood for the trees"
expression
KAN-not see thuh WOOD for thuh TREEZ
kuh-NOT see thuh WOOD faw thuh TREEZ
Definition
This expression means to be so focused on the small details or individual parts of something that you miss the overall situation or bigger picture.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈkænɑt/, /kəˈnɑt/ /ˈsi/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈwʊd/ /ˈfɔɹ/, /fɝ/, /fɹɝ/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈtɹiz
British English
kəˈnɑt/ /sˈiː/ /ðə, ði/ /wˈʊd/ /fˈɔː/ /ðə, ði/ /tɹˈiːz
Simplified Pronunciation
US
KAN-not see thuh WOOD for thuh TREEZ
UK
kuh-NOT see thuh WOOD faw thuh TREEZ
Listen in Context
Sometimes people cannot see the wood for the trees when working on a big project.
If you cannot see the wood for the trees, you miss important information.
My teacher said I cannot see the wood for the trees because I worried about tiny mistakes.
You're so caught up in the details—you cannot see the wood for the trees!