Idiom: Barking Up the Wrong Tree

pursuing a mistaken course

Examples

• You're barking up the wrong tree.

Key rules

• Barking up the wrong tree means pursuing a mistaken idea or the wrong person
• It is informal and based on a hunting image
• The phrase is used with "are" or "you're"
• It is used to correct someone politely

Common mistakes

• You're barking up a wrong tree → You're barking up the wrong tree