Idiom: barking up the wrong tree
Guess the meaning
This YouTube video (see below) is hysterical and reminds me of the English idiom: Barking up the wrong tree.
Take a look and see if you can understand the meaning of the expression. The photo above should also give you a good hint. You’ll find the definition below.
Meaning
Does it is make sense now? The dog is barking at the statue because he wants him to throw the stick so he can play fetch. Obviously, the statue is not human and cannot move. So the dog is asking for help from someone who cannot help him.
Barking up the wrong tree is an English idiomatic expression.
We use the expression “barking up the wrong tree” as a metaphor to describe when someone is trying to achieve something but they're doing it in the wrong way (or they are trying to get something but they will not be successful).
The picture above is also a good visual explanation of the expression. The dog is barking up one tree but the cat has escaped to another one.
Definition:
1) doing something that will not get you the result you want;
2) to be wrong about the reason for something.
Example sentences
— I tried to get information from the receptionist about the director but she was just a temporary employee so I was barking up the wrong tree.
— My roommate has been flattering her professor to try to become a teaching assistant but she's barking up the wrong tree since the department chair makes those decisions.
— My brother keeps bugging my sister for money but he's barking up the wrong tree because she's broke.
— You're barking up the wrong tree if you think you'll get into Harvard with your grades.
— If you think your boss will put in a good word for you with the director you're barking up the wrong tree.
— I was definitely barking up the wrong tree when I asked my boyfriend to pick out a dress for my office party. He has horrible taste.
— My classmate barked up the wrong tree when he asked me to help him cheat on the exam. Not only did I not help him but I told the teacher what he was trying to do.
Check out this video with examples from television
In this video, Jay Pimentel gives details of the origin of the idiom "barking up the wrong tree," along with examples of the idiom used in several television episodes.
It's excellent to hear the idioms in context. You can check out more videos about idioms at Jay's YouTube channel.
Synonyms
- be sadly mistaken
- under the wrong impression
- be way off the mark
- on the wrong track
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