Photo by Kenna Takahashi

bark up the wrong tree

This expression comes from hunting. A hunting dog chases an animal (such as a raccoon) until the animal climbs up a tree. Then the dog stands at the bottom of the tree and keeps barking. The dog waits for the hunter to arrive, and shows the hunter where the animal is hiding. But sometimes the animal jumps to another tree, and from there to other trees. In this way, the animal escapes. The dog is still at the bottom of the first tree, barking, but the animal is not hiding in that tree. The dog has made a mistake, and will not be able to catch the animal.

In the same way, if someone is “barking up the wrong tree”, they are looking in the wrong place, talking to the wrong person, or trying the wrong strategy. The person will not be able to achieve their goal if they continue with this strategy. For example:

Dave really wants a pay raise at work. He keeps doing nice things for his boss,  Mr. Robinson. But he is barking up the wrong tree. He should be doing nice things for Ms. Tracey, since SHE decides who gets raises!

The police have been looking for the bank robbers in the countryside, but I think they are barking up the wrong tree. The robbers are more likely to hide in a big city, and that’s where the police should be searching.

Management is trying to increase sales by hiring new salespeople. But they’re barking up the wrong tree. There’s nothing wrong with our salespeople – it’s our ADVERTISING which needs to be changed.