With the increased use of the idiomatic expression red herring, references to the smoked fish product in this manner declined.

This idiomatic expression may have been in general use much earlier than 1959.

In written language, removing words not strictly necessary sometimes makes writing seem stilted or awkward, especially if the words are cut from an idiomatic expression.

The idiomatic expression also applies to an obvious problem or risk no one wants to discuss.

The idiomatic expression refers to learning from bad or difficult or unpleasant experiences.