Red herrings are a distraction, something that is used to mislead or divert attention from the real issue. There are a few alternative synonyms that carry a similar meaning, such as smokescreen, decoy, diversion, or false lead. All these synonyms have one thing in common: they are all tactics used to distract people from the actual topic, goal, or objective. A smokescreen is a metaphorical smoke that clouds the real issue. A decoy is used to lure someone or something away from the actual target. A diversion is a detour, used to direct someone from the intended course of action. And finally, a false lead is something that seems like the right direction, but in reality, is just a dead end.