The forest for the trees

[TheParser]

Americans might say, "Mona cannot see the forest for the trees." = She cannot understand the main idea because she pays so much attention to details.

I have just read something written by an English gentleman during World War I: He is "unable to see wood for trees."

In 2012, which expression do most Brits use?

Thank you.

 

[Tdol]

I use Can't see the wood for the trees.

 

[5jj]

I use Can't see the wood for the trees.

So do I. I don't think I have ever heard 'forest' from a speaker of BrE.

 

[Tdol]

Until an American speaker told me the idiom, I hadn't come across it.