"Barking up the wrong tree" is an idiomatic expression in English, which is used to suggest a mistaken emphasis in a specific context. The phrase is an allusion to the mistake made by dogs when they believe they have chased a prey up a tree, but the game may have escaped by leaping from one tree to another. The phrase means to mistake one's object, or to pursue the wrong course to obtain it.
In other words, "if you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong."
- Wikipedia -------------------------------------
Have you ever barked up the wrong tree? Or have been the one up in the wrongfully barked up tree?
I have, Maowi the cat has, and we have done it to each other, too. And we both learned our lessons (hopefully).
BTW, who would you feel (more) pity for, the tree or the dog?
Joke aside, the idiom has been used on many occasions, two examples are in pics below.
1. A few US senators in the west Block of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 21 2025, looking to bend Prime Minister Mark Carney's ear about Canada-US relations.
"Barking up the wrong tree" is an idiomatic expression in English, which is used to suggest a mistaken emphasis in a specific context. The phrase is an allusion to the mistake made by dogs when they believe they have chased a prey up a tree, but the game may have escaped by leaping from one tree to another. The phrase means to mistake one's object, or to pursue the wrong course to obtain it.
In other words, "if you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong."
- Wikipedia
-------------------------------------
Have you ever barked up the wrong tree? Or have been the one up in the wrongfully barked up tree?
I have, Maowi the cat has, and we have done it to each other, too. And we both learned our lessons (hopefully).
BTW, who would you feel (more) pity for, the tree or the dog?
Joke aside, the idiom has been used on many occasions, two examples are in pics below.
1. A few US senators in the west Block of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 21 2025, looking to bend Prime Minister Mark Carney's ear about Canada-US relations.
2.
Also a TED talk by someone from UBC: