Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Barking up the wrong tree means you’re making the wrong accusation or chasing the wrong solution. It comes from hunting dogs baying at a tree where the animal isn’t actually hiding.
synonyms: wrong idea, false lead, mistaken blame, missed the mark
Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll hear 'barkin’ up the wrong tree' around here - same as everwhere else! Hillbilly Dude Says...
You'll hear 'barkin’ up the wrong tree' around here - same as everwhere else! Pronunciation
[BAR-kin up the RONG TREE]
/ˈbɑrkɪŋ ʌp ðə rɔŋ tri/
/ˈbɑrkɪŋ ʌp ðə rɔŋ tri/
Meaning & Usage
- Chasing the wrong thing or blaming the wrong person
Hazel:
You took my phone charger again!
You took my phone charger again!
Raylene:
No, ma’am - you’re barkin’ up the wrong tree.
No, ma’am - you’re barkin’ up the wrong tree.variations: barkin’ up the wrong tree, bark up the wrong tree
Origin
This phrase grew out of **19th-century American hunting culture**. If a hound followed a raccoon or opossum to a tree and barked wildly while the critter slipped over to another one, the dog was said to be "barking up the wrong tree."
The saying spread across the entire United States as a metaphor for **pursuing the wrong target**, and it’s still common in everyday speech - especially where hunting and dogs are part of life.
Verdict: Southernish. Rural roots and perfect Southern flavor - but used all over America, not uniquely Southern.
Notes
- Often used to shut down a false accusation politely (or not-so-politely).
- A friendly way to say someone’s got the wrong idea entirely.
- Shows up frequently in country, rural, and Western dialects.
- Still one of the most common animal-imagery idioms in English.
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