Bark up the wrong tree
Meaning
To make a mistake in an attempt to achieve something, often by pursuing a course of action that will not lead to the desired result.
Origin
Imagine a hunting dog, full of eagerness, hot on the trail of a raccoon or squirrel through the dense American woodlands. The animal scrambles up a tree, and the dog, with unwavering conviction, plants itself at the base and barks furiously. But unknown to the canine, its crafty quarry has already leaped to an adjacent branch or descended unseen, leaving the dog to exhaust itself at an empty tree. This vivid image, straight from 19th-century American frontier life and its hunting traditions, perfectly illustrates the futility of a misdirected effort, giving us the idiom. The phrase quickly caught on, capturing the frustration of pursuing the wrong lead or making a misguided assumption.
Examples
- The detective spent hours questioning the landlord, only to realize he was barking up the wrong tree; the real culprit was the tenant next door.
- If you think I'm going to lend you money after all you've done, you're barking up the wrong tree with that request.