can't see the forest [woods] for the trees; be sharp-sighted enough to perceive the tip of an animal's autumn hair but unable to see a cartload of firewood; strain at a gnat and swallow a camel; able to see the minor points but not the major ones; see the minute details but miss the major issue
Related Translations:
明察秋毫: discover the minutest detail in everything; able to see the fine down of birds in autumn -- very perspicacious; be able to penetrate deeply into all things; can see the tiniest objects; ca
