Barking Up the Wrong Tree Meaning
Definition: Pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action based on a false assumption.
This expression is typically used when a person is drawing a wrong conclusion.
Origin of Barking Up the Wrong Tree
The expression barking up the wrong tree comes from the old hunting practice in which dogs would bark to show that they had cornered their prey.
The dogs would bark up at a tree if they had trapped whatever animal they were chasing into the tree. Occasionally, however, the dogs were mistaken, and the animal had actually escaped. When this happened, the dogs were literally barking up the wrong tree.
This idiom first began appearing in written works after the 1820s. It changed from its literal meaning to being applicable for anyone who was following a wrong lead.
A counter phrase has since been coined: barking up the right tree. This is really only used in a jocular fashion, mimicking it predecessor, and it means that you are on the right track.
Examples of Barking Up the Wrong Tree
This dialogue shows two coworkers having a discussion about who is responsible for leaving an unsigned gift.
Deanna: Do you know who left these flowers on my desk?
Emily: No, I don’t! It looks like you have a secret admirer!
Deanna: Don’t be silly. Who do you think it is?
Emily: I think it might be Drew. He’s always talking to you.
Deanna: No, we’re just friends.
Emily: Then maybe it’s Jon! He’s always smiling at you.
Deanna: Now I know you’re barking up the wrong tree. Jon is married!
In the second example, two teammates are playing baseball.
Billy: I don’t know why I’ve been playing so poorly lately. I feel like I can never hit the ball, and almost never catch it!
Angie: Don’t worry. Everyone has a bad day once in a while.
Billy: But this isn’t a bad day. It’s more like a bad month!
Angie: Well, maybe you’re tired.
Billy: No, I’ve been getting a lot of sleep lately.
Angie: Then maybe you’re depressed.
Billy: No, I would never get depressed.
Angie: I really think that’s it! Your mood has been different lately.
Billy: Let’s stop talking about it. You’re barking up the wrong tree.
Angie: No, I’m not.
What is the Correct Turn of Phrase?
Sometimes, people misspell or misstate this phrase in their writing or conversation. The correct phrase is, as we have been using it throughout this post, barking up the wrong tree.
A few common misspellings are,
- Barking at the wrong tree.
- Barking in the wrong tree.
- Barking to the wrong tree.
Obviously, some of these more closely resemble the meaning of the original phrase, but the phrase itself is barking up the wrong tree.
More Examples
The first excerpt uses this idiom in a quote from an actress who was accused of mistreating her dog by leaving him in a hot car. She uses the expression to explain that she has been wrongly accused.
- “I am not only a loving dog owner but a discerning one,” she told USA TODAY in a statement. “The morning was a cool 73 degrees. I, and others, were wearing jackets. I rolled all four windows down and left the car for five minutes to pick up my laundry with my car visible to me the entire time.” –USA Today
The second excerpt uses this idiom in a quote in which a man explains that if people are making a certain decision, then they are making a mistake.
- “If they are looking at fixing what’s there, I’ve been wanting to work with Republicans for years now,” said Mr. Tester, whose state cast just 36 percent of its vote for Hillary Clinton. “But if they are going to take away provisions like pre-existing conditions, lifetime caps, 26-year-olds, I think they are barking up the wrong tree.” –New York Times
Summary
Barking up the wrong tree is used to describe following a course of action based on a mistaken assumption.
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