What does the expression 'seeing forest from trees' mean?

[Priya Raghavan]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #315 "English Slang Idioms (36)", question 6

"That is the problem with a lot of department managers. They are good at improving their department but that is often at the expense of the organization as a whole. They often can't see the ......... from the trees," the consultant said.

(a) structures
(b) others
(c) forest
(d) route

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #315 "English Slang Idioms (36)", answer 6

"That is the problem with a lot of department managers. They are good at improving their department but that is often at the expense of the organization as a whole. They often can't see the forest from the trees," the consultant said.

Correct answer: (c) forest
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What does the expression 'seeing forest from trees' mean?

Priya Raghavan

[Daemon99]

to pay too much attention to details and not understand the general situation
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Non-native speaker of English
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I intend to live forever - so far, so good.

[Alan]

Hi,

In my book the expression (rightly explained by Daemon) is usually: can't see the wood for the trees.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Are you a Persuader?

[Esl_Expert]

There must be a typo in the test.

I can't recall ever having heard anyone use this idiom with the word "from". Never. The expression I've always heard used in my neck of the woods (US) is "can't see the forest for the trees."
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/can%27t+see+the+forest+for+the+trees
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“Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice.” ~ Henry Ford