bark up the wrong tree
Say it: bark up the wrong TREE /ˌbɑːk ʌp ðə ˌrɒŋ ˈtriː/ · idiom
What “bark up the wrong tree” means
Follow an idea or search that is mistaken.
More precisely: To pursue a mistaken idea, plan or line of inquiry.
When to use it
When someone follows the wrong clue or blames the wrong person. Informal, often used as a friendly correction.
Memory trick
Picture a dog barking at an empty tree while the squirrel sits elsewhere.
Similar words
be mistaken, be on the wrong track
Where it comes from
From hunting dogs barking at a tree their prey has already escaped from.
Quick check
You search the kitchen for a leak, but the water is coming from the bathroom. Which phrase fits?
leave no stone unturned or bark up the wrong tree?
Show the answer
bark up the wrong tree
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