What is another word for red herring?
Pronunciation: [ɹˈɛd hˈɛɹɪŋ] (IPA) 
Red herring is a phrase that is commonly used to describe a tactic that is meant to distract or mislead someone from the main point of an argument or discussion. There are a number of synonyms that can be used to describe this type of tactic, including smoke screen and diversion. Other terms that might be used include decoy, rabbit trail, or red herring argument. In some cases, a red herring may be a deliberate attempt to mislead, while in other cases it might simply be a result of someone failing to stay on topic or failing to understand the question at hand. Regardless of the cause, it is important to be able to recognize when a red herring is being used so that you can stay focused on the main point of the conversation.
