# count angels on pinheads

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/count-angels-on-pinheads
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To focus on obtaining the correct details of something which are largely irrelevant or unimportant.

## Examples

- Stop counting angels on pinheads and finish the main report.
- The committee spent three hours counting angels on pinheads instead of addressing the budget deficit.
- While the project faced a critical deadline, the team wasted valuable time counting angels on pinheads regarding the exact font size of the footer.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.