APAD: Barking up the wrong tree

"Barking up the wrong tree" is an idiomatic expression in English, which is used to suggest a mistaken emphasis in a specific context. The phrase is an allusion to the mistake made by dogs when they believe they have chased a prey up a tree, but the game may have escaped by leaping from one tree to another. The phrase means to mistake one's object, or to pursue the wrong course to obtain it.

In other words, "if you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong."

- Wikipedia
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Have you ever barked up the wrong tree? Or have been the one up in the wrongfully barked up tree?  

I have, Maowi the cat has, and we have done it to each other, too.  And we both learned our lessons (hopefully).

BTW, who would you feel (more) pity for, the tree or the dog? 鬼脸




Joke aside, the idiom has been used on many occasions, two examples are in pics below.

1. A few US senators in the west Block of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 21 2025, looking to bend Prime Minister Mark Carney's ear about Canada-US relations.



2.

所有跟帖: 

Some dogs bark so well that it doesn't matter:-)) -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 08:38:56

really? feel sorry 4 the dog but rather not hear any barking -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 09:03:49

as it makes me feel nervous. won't U? -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 09:10:34

I'll just tune the barking out. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 09:17:00

I pity the tree who can't make itself heard. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 09:15:46

I pity both but differently. And yes, more 4 the tree :-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 09:19:44

Great idiom! misguided?缘木求鱼、南辕北辙? -硅谷居士- 给 硅谷居士 发送悄悄话 硅谷居士 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 09:26:43

goodQ. 南辕北辙/缘木求鱼是指错误方法?this's more 2do w/ target. eg.张冠李戴 or -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 09:41:38

对牛弹琴(可怜的牛;-)?but I'm@my wits' end. Maybe others can chipIn? -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 09:43:15

Chase the wrong rabbit. Can the tree bark back?:) -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 11:48:55

Actully trees/plants do talk per scientist (C Video below:-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (454 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 12:07:10

暖冬MM,你的文字比我好(实话!),能帮忙给一下对应的中文成语吗?谢了!! -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 12:09:42

哪里哪里:)你的中英文都比我好!我想,这个大概是中文里的“找错人了”,鸡同鸭讲,缘木求鱼的意思:)缘木求鱼可以的,我觉得 -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 12:43:32

嗯,just checked,缘木求鱼不仅指方法,是还有方向错了的意思。Thx. & My apology 2 居士! -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 13:08:21

No worries! Thanks for checking on these! -硅谷居士- 给 硅谷居士 发送悄悄话 硅谷居士 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/31/2025 postreply 07:38:02

我同事讲他的狗追兔子,兔子转圈跑,狗转圈追,最后兔子跳出圈藏着偷看,狗继续转圈 -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 14:48:18

LOL, U can always make laughter :-). Thout harebrain's silly -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 14:58:21

never thout a rabbit could outsmart a dog ~~ -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 07/30/2025 postreply 14:59:37

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