bark up the wrong tree

Rate this phrase:0.0 / 0 votes

bark up the wrong tree

To attempt or pursue the wrong thing; to take the wrong approach; to follow a false lead.

Etymology:

An allusion to a situation in which a hunting dog misidentifies the tree up which it has chased an animal and positions itself at the base of another tree, barking upward at the branches.

: 18 Views

“

If you think you're going to get him to agree just by asking, you're barking up the wrong tree.

Collection Edit

Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'bark up the wrong tree':

Bark Up the Wrong Tree	To have a wrong guess or idea about someone or some situation, efforts and attentions being diverted in a wrong direction

Bark Up the Wrong Tree

To have a wrong guess or idea about someone or some situation, efforts and attentions being diverted in a wrong direction

See them all »

Translation

Find a translation for the bark up the wrong tree phrase in other languages:

Select another language:

Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to bark up the wrong tree

fall into the wrong hands barking up the wrong tree "if i told a herd of oxen they are…3-on-the-tree can't do right for doing wrong dogs bark fruit of the poisonous tree Christmas tree bill down the wrong alley Bark is Worse than Your Bite 3-on-the-tree apple does not fall far from the tree all bark and no bite christmas tree

How to pronounce this phrase?

Alex
US English
David
US English
Mark
US English
Daniel
British
Libby
British
Mia
British
Karen
Australian
Hayley
Australian
Natasha
Australian
Veena
Indian
Priya
Indian
Neerja
Indian
Zira
US English
Oliver
British
Wendy
British
Fred
US English
Tessa
South African

Discuss this bark up the wrong tree phrase with the community:

0 Comments

Notify me of new comments via email.

Citation

Use the citation below to add this bark up the wrong tree definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"bark up the wrong tree." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/bark-up-the-wrong-tree_2227>.

bark up the wrong tree

Etymology:

Additional definitions for 'bark up the wrong tree':

Translation

Find a translation for the bark up the wrong tree phrase in other languages:

Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to bark up the wrong tree

How to pronounce this phrase?

Discuss this bark up the wrong tree phrase with the community:

0 Comments

Citation

Use the citation below to add this bark up the wrong tree definition to your bibliography:

We need you!

Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

The Web's Largest Resource for

Phrases, Verbs & Idioms

A Member Of The STANDS4 Network

Quiz

Are you a phrases master?

A drop in the _______.

Browse Phrases.com