Idiom: "One can't see the forest for the trees"

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Not See the Forest for the Trees (UK),meaning: If people don't see the forest for the trees, they get so caught up in small detail, that they fail to understand the bigger picture. It is used for saying that someone is so worried about small details that they do not see the most basic and important features of a situation.
The UK variant idiomatic phrase of this expression is to not see the wood for the trees and it is identical in meaning. It refers to people being unable to get a general understanding of a situation because they are too worried about the details.
SYNONYMS, THESAURUS Feelings of confusion and distraction confused adjective unable to understand something or think clearly about it bewildered adjective confused and not certain what to do perplexed adjective confused because you cannot understand something dazed adjective unable to think clearly or understand what is happening because you are surprised, upset, tired, or have been hit on the head spaced adjective informal slightly confused and unable to concentrate, for example because you are tired foggy adjective confused because you cannot think or see clearly disoriented adjective confused about where you are or what direction you are moving in beside yourself unable to think clearly because you are very angry, upset, or excited at a loss (to do something) confused and not knowing what to do can’t think straight to be unable to consider things carefully or correctly addled adjective not able to think clearly all at sea mainly british confused and not certain what to do (all) hot and bothered upset and confused, for example because you have too much to do at your wits’ end so worried and tired because of your problems that you cannot think of any more ways of solving them bedazzled adjective literary very impressed and slightly confused by something befuddled adjective very confused, and unable to think clearly bemused adjective confused be out of your head to be unable to think clearly, especially because of having taken drugs or drunk too much alcohol cannot see/think straight to be unable to see or think clearly cloudy adjective confused delirious adjective medical talking or thinking in a confused way because you are sick disconcerted adjective feeling worried, confused, or surprised disorientated adjective british disoriented disoriented adjective unable to think clearly or make sensible decisions distracted adjective not able to concentrate on something distraught adjective extremely worried, upset, or confused dizzy adjective feeling or making you feel excited or confused, especially because everything is changing very fast flummoxed adjective extremely confused flustered adjective feeling confused, embarrassed, or nervous, especially because you have too much to do or too little time to do something fuddled adjective informal unable to think clearly harassed adjective upset and confused because you do not have enough time or energy to do all the things that you need to do in a daze not concentrating, thinking clearly, or understanding what is happening around you in a stew very nervous, worried, or confused about something in a tizzy feeling very nervous or confused mixed up adjective confused non compos mentis adjective often humorous unable to think clearly, for example because of being drunk nonplussed adjective so surprised and confused that you do not know what to do or say not know whether to laugh or cry to feel confused and not know what to do when something bad happens, usually something unexpected not know whether you’re coming or going to feel very confused, usually because you have too many things to deal with off balance surprised, upset, or confused by something on the edge so unhappy or confused that you are close to doing something silly or becoming mentally ill punch-drunk adjective confused because you have not had enough sleep, or are in a very difficult situation punchy adjective american punch-drunk puzzled adjective confused because you cannot understand something scatterbrained adjective informal not thinking in an organized way and often forgetting or losing things screwed up adjective informal feeling very upset, unhappy, or confused, especially as a result of a bad experience someone can’t see the forest for the trees used for saying that someone is so worried about small details that they do not see the most basic and important features of a situation. The British phrase is can’t see the wood for the trees. spacey adjective informal a little confused and unable to concentrate, for example because you are very tired stupefied adjective unable to think clearly, for example because of the effect of drugs uncomprehending adjective formal unable to understand what is being said or done unsettled adjective nervous, confused, or upset vexed adjective old-fashioned annoyed, confused, or worried to cross purposes (idiom), to get the wrong end of the stick (idiom) to get one's wires crosses (idiom) to labour under delusion/ misapprehension/ illusion (idiom) to have a mental block (idiom) to miscalculate, miscalculation, to misconceive, misconception, to be misguided, to misjudge, to miss the point (idiom) to put two and two together and make five (idiom) to underestimate
References: 1. https://dictionary.cambridge.org 2. https://www.macmillandictionary.com

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