Significado
Focusing on details instead of the whole.
Contexto cultural
In Bucharest's 'corporatist' circles, this phrase is often used to push back against 'micro-management'. It is a socially acceptable way to tell a superior they are being too controlling over details. Teachers often use this to criticize the 'memorization' culture in schools, where students know facts but not the 'why' behind them. In villages, the literal forest is a source of life. Using this idiom there might sometimes be met with a literal joke about wood for the winter. Romanian talk shows (like those on TVR or cultural podcasts) use this phrase constantly to describe political short-sightedness.
The 'De' Rule
Remember that 'de' here means 'because of'. It's a very common way to express cause in idioms.
Don't use with 'pentru'
Using 'pentru' (for) is a common English-speaker mistake. It sounds very unnatural in Romanian.
Significado
Focusing on details instead of the whole.
The 'De' Rule
Remember that 'de' here means 'because of'. It's a very common way to express cause in idioms.
Don't use with 'pentru'
Using 'pentru' (for) is a common English-speaker mistake. It sounds very unnatural in Romanian.
Use it to sound strategic
In a Romanian business meeting, using this phrase makes you sound like a leader who cares about the 'big picture'.
Teste-se
Complete the idiom with the correct word.
Ești atât de stresat de bani încât nu vezi ________ de copaci.
The idiom is 'a nu vedea pădurea de copaci'.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
Andrei se ceartă cu soția lui pentru că a cumpărat lapte greșit, deși au câștigat la loterie ieri.
He is focusing on a tiny detail (the milk) instead of the big news (the lottery).
Match the response to the situation.
Managerul tău se plânge de fontul unui raport, dar raportul are date complet greșite.
The manager is focusing on aesthetics instead of the critical data errors.
🎉 Pontuação: /3
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
3 exerciciosEști atât de stresat de bani încât nu vezi ________ de copaci.
The idiom is 'a nu vedea pădurea de copaci'.
Andrei se ceartă cu soția lui pentru că a cumpărat lapte greșit, deși au câștigat la loterie ieri.
He is focusing on a tiny detail (the milk) instead of the big news (the lottery).
Managerul tău se plânge de fontul unui raport, dar raportul are date complet greșite.
The manager is focusing on aesthetics instead of the critical data errors.
🎉 Pontuação: /3
Perguntas frequentes
5 perguntasIt is neutral. You can use it with friends, but also in a professional email or a news report.
Yes, that is a perfectly correct and very common variation. It's slightly more emphatic.
Not usually. It's seen as a helpful observation about perspective, though tone matters.
There isn't a single idiom, but 'a avea o viziune de ansamblu' (to have an overview) is the conceptual opposite.
Yes, it almost always describes a failure or a risk of failing to see the truth.
Frases relacionadas
A se pierde în detalii
synonymTo lose oneself in details.
Viziune de ansamblu
contrastOverview / Big picture vision.
A despica firul în patru
similarTo split the hair in four (to over-analyze).
A pune carul înaintea boilor
relatedTo put the cart before the horse.
