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

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'bark up the wrong tree':

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

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

barking up the wrong tree!3-on-the-treedogs barkBark is Worse than Your Biteas the twig is bent, so the tree's incl…christmas treefall into the wrong hands3-on-the-treeChristmas tree billfir treeapple does not fall far from the tree3-on-the-treedown the wrong alleybarking-up the wrong tree:

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    "bark up the wrong tree." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 21 Jan. 2025. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/bark-up-the-wrong-tree_2227>.

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