On this show , we try to explain common expressions used in American English . Today , we talk about a small , silvery fish , called herring . In some places , herring is a popular food . In the United States , herring is also part of a curious expression . We call unimportant information that is used to distract a “red herring .” For example , mystery writers often use red herrings as plot devices . But those reasons turn out to be red herrings . Christie uses them to throw the reader off the scent of the real killer . In a mystery , a red herring is something the writer presents as a clue , but actually isn't . Mysteries aren't the only places that use red herrings . People who work in government or write about politics also commonly use this expression . Politicians are sometimes guilty of drawing people's attention away from serious issues by throwing out red herrings that they know will get a reaction . People also criticize the media for creating red herrings – reports that are used to purposefully distract readers from more important issues . As you can see , the expression red herring is useful … but it is odd . How did herring turn red ? And why does it mean something that is purposefully misleading ? The first part , about the color , is easy to answer . Before modern transportation and cooling equipment , fish was difficult to ship to customers . It would go bad before reaching stores . So , people began curing fish for later use . They added salt to the fish or left it hanging in a smoky room . After this process , the fish skin would darken , changing to a reddish-brown color . In this way , some herring literally turned red . In our examples today , however , a “red herring ” means something that takes attention away from the real issue . How did it come to mean that ? Well , language experts do not really agree . Some word historians point out that these smoked fish have a very strong smell . So , they might have been used to train hunting and tracking dogs . They suggest the scent of red herring could trick a group of hunters and , more importantly , their dogs . In other words , red herring could throw even the best hunting dogs off track , making them likely to go in the wrong direction . However , to other language experts , this explanation makes no sense . It suggests that people were following the hunters , secretly plotting to ruin their day . Who would do that ? More importantly , there doesn't seem to be any written evidence to support that claim . Now let's hear these tricky words in a short story . Our story begins with a guy named Max . He works as a security guard at a famous museum . As a security guard , Max watches visitors to the museum as they come and go . He often wonders things about them . Where do they come from ? Are they happily married ? What do they do for a living ? One day , Max notices a very pretty woman visiting the exhibit he is guarding . He has seen her before . In fact , she often comes to see the rare jewelry exhibit – sometimes several times a week . During one of these visits , she starts a conversation with Max . She asks if it is difficult being a security guard and if he ever gets bored . She introduces herself as Maria , a fashion designer . When Maria comes to visit , she often talks with Max . “Maybe she likes me ,” he thinks . Max thinks she is very interesting and wants to spend more time with her . During one of their talks at the museum , he finds out that she is studying Italian . He lies and tells her he has always wanted to learn Italian . He is simply using Italian as a ruse . And it works ! Max and Maria meet every Saturday afternoon in the museum garden to study Italian . During the lessons , they also talk about themselves . Maria shares her dreams of one day showing her fashions in a museum . Max tells her many details about his security job . He jokes that it would be very easy to rob the museum . Maria asks him if he could identify a robber . They describe what they think a robber would look like and laugh together . Over the passing weeks , they learn more about each other . What Max doesn't learn , however , is that Maria is not as innocent as she looks . Maria is actually an international jewel thief ! Police from eight different countries have been searching for her for the past two years ! Her latest goal is to steal the rare Black Diamond ! This diamond is the most valuable diamond in the world and it is part of the exhibit that Max is guarding . All her attention on him was a subterfuge to learn more about the museum's security system . One night after the museum closes , Maria makes her move . She enters the building using the security code that Max shared with her – his dog's name , Bones . “When dealing with a beautiful woman , men can be so stupid ,” she laughs to herself . She sneaks into the jewelry exhibit and destroys the movement-detecting alarms Max told her about . Then she walks up to the glass case protecting the Black Diamond and unlocks it with the key she stole from Max . As she holds the diamond in her hands , she laughs , “The Black Diamond is mine !” Just then the lights go on , an alarm sounds and a team of police run in . They have caught her ! As a police officer handcuffs Maria , the lead police investigator comes into the room . Her surprise is so strong she is unable to speak . It is Max . He flashes his police badge and says , “Your stealing days are over , Maria ! How could I have been fooled by you , a simple police detective ?!” Max puts his badge back in his pocket and says , “You can think about that in prison where you'll be spending the next 15 years ! Oh , and by the way , I speak perfect Italian . How many red herrings can you find in this story ?