C1idiominformalnatureIELTS-friendly
bark up the wrong tree
USUK
to have a wrong idea about the cause of something or the person responsible
Almost always in the continuous form: 'You're barking up the wrong tree.'
In context
If you think I took your charger, you're barking up the wrong tree.
The police were barking up the wrong tree until a new witness appeared.
More idioms about nature
- a big fish in a small pondan important person, but only in a small group or place
- a bird's-eye viewa view of something from high above
- a breath of fresh airsomeone or something new and different that makes a situation more pleasant
- a dark horsea person with hidden talents, or a competitor nobody expected to do well
- a drop in the oceana very small amount compared with what is needed