barking up the wrong tree

idiom/ˈbɑːrkɪŋ ʌp ðə rɒŋ triː/ 🔊 listen

Barking up the wrong tree means to look in the wrong place or accuse the wrong person. The image is of a dog barking at a tree after an animal has already escaped up a different one.

📖 Meanings

1to accuse the wrong person or look in the wrong place
"If you think I took your phone, you're barking up the wrong tree." — If you think I took it, you're looking in the wrong direction.
2to pursue the wrong course of action
"Looking for cheaper flights in August? You're barking up the wrong tree." — That's not where you'll find a solution.

🔄 Related expressions

wrong person →off track →looking in the wrong place →

💬 Common patterns

you're barking up the wrong treebarking up the wrong tree iftotally barking up the wrong tree
❓ "If you blame her, you're barking up the wrong tree." What does this mean?