not see the wood for the trees1 (also not see the forest for the trees American English)UNDERSTAND# to be unable to understand what is important in a situation because you are thinking too much about small details rather than the whole situation 见树不见林,抓不住重点〔因注重细节而忽略整体〕 → not see the wood for the trees at see1(22)
2 NOTICEto not notice what is important about something because you give too much of your attention to small details 见树不见林〔指过于关注细节而忽略重要部分〕 → not see the wood for the trees at wood(3)