bark up the wrong tree

Meaning

This idiom means to follow a mistaken line of thought, accuse the wrong person, or pursue a course of action that will not lead to the desired result. It originates from hunting dogs barking at the bottom of a tree where they think prey is hiding, when the prey has actually escaped to a different tree. The tone is often casual, corrective, or warning.

Examples

• If you think I'm the one who stole your lunch, you're barking up the wrong tree.

  If you think I'm the one who stole your lunch, you're barking up the wrong tree.

• The police spent weeks investigating the neighbor, but they were barking up the wrong tree.

  The police spent weeks investigating the neighbor, but they were barking up the wrong tree.

• He's barking up the wrong tree by asking me for a loan; I'm completely broke.

  He's barking up the wrong tree by asking me for a loan; I'm completely broke.

• If you are trying to get a promotion by flattering the receptionist, you are barking up the wrong tree.

  If you are trying to get a promotion by flattering the receptionist, you are barking up the wrong tree.

• She thought fixing the router would solve the internet issue, but she was barking up the wrong tree.

  She thought fixing the router would solve the internet issue, but she was barking up the wrong tree.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ You are barking the wrong tree.

  ✓ You are barking up the wrong tree.

  The preposition 'up' is essential to the idiom and cannot be omitted.

• ✗ He is barking up the bad tree.

  ✓ He is barking up the wrong tree.

  The adjective is fixed as 'wrong'. You cannot substitute it with words like 'bad' or 'incorrect'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you're looking for sympathy from him, you're ___.

  💡 Pursuing a mistaken line of thought

  Show answer

  barking up the wrong tree

• The detectives realized they were ___ when the suspect's alibi was confirmed.

  💡 Accusing or investigating the wrong person

  Show answer

  barking up the wrong tree