Verb
see the forest for the trees (third-person singular simple present sees the forest for the trees, present participle seeing the forest for the trees, simple past saw the forest for the trees, past participle seen the forest for the trees)
(idiomatic, chiefly in the negative) To discern an overall pattern from a mass of detail; to see the big picture, or the broader, more general situation.
Smith is good at detail, but can't see the forest for the trees.
You can't see the forest for the trees. Nicholas Sparks
He can't see the forest for the trees. Traditional Proverb