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The term "red herring" originates from the 19th century practice of using strong smelling, smoked fish to train dogs or distract them from a scent trail. It was famously popularised by British journalist William Corbett in 1807 to describe misleading press reports, and later adopted in literature as a device to divert readers from the truth.

The term "white elephant" originates from Southeast Asian legends, particularly from Siam (Thailand), where rare, sacred white elephants were considered symbols of royal power and prosperity, but were also burdensome because they couldn't work and were expensive to maintain. The story goes that the king would gift these magnificent but impractical animals to courtiers he disliked, ruining them financially with the upkeep costs, making it a blessing and a curse.

The phrase white elephant describes a costly, useless possession that is hard to get rid of.

Do you own a white elephant or have you owned one, and have you ever received a red herring?

What is your opinion?