A red herring is a type of distraction or false lead that is used to divert attention away from the real issue. It is often used in literature and other forms of media. The term 'red herring' comes from the practice of using smoked herring to distract hunting dogs from their intended target. The crossword solutions for the term 'red herring' are PLOY (4 letters), RUSE (4 letters), SHAD (4 letters), and SMOKESCREEN (11 letters). A PLOY is a clever trick or strategy used to achieve a goal, while a RUSE is a deceptive maneuver or stratagem. SHAD is a type of fish related to herring, and a SMOKESCREEN is an attempt to conceal or obscure something by creating a distraction.