C1idiominformalcommunicationIELTS-friendly
get the wrong end of the stick
USUK
to understand something in the wrong way
Informal and mainly British. 'You've got the wrong end of the stick' is a soft way to correct a misunderstanding.
In context
I think you've got the wrong end of the stick; I wasn't criticising your work.
My mum got the wrong end of the stick and thought I was moving abroad for good.
More idioms about communication
- a moot pointUK: a question still open to argument. US: a question that no longer matters in practice.
- beat around the bushto avoid saying something directly, usually because it is uncomfortable
- get to the pointto start talking about the most important part of a subject
- get your point acrossto make other people understand what you are trying to say
- hit the nail on the headto describe a situation or problem exactly right