bark up the wrong tree

B

bark up the wrong tree (idiom)
/ˈbɑrk ˌʌp ðə ˌrɔŋ ˈtri/

The phrase “bark up the wrong tree” is an idiom meaning to follow a mistaken course of action or hold a false assumption.

Meaning

1. Waste effort by pursuing the wrong goal or path.
2. Make a poor or misguided choice.
3. Take an unsuitable or incorrect approach.
4. Misunderstand the real cause or source of a problem.
5. Pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action.
6. Accuse or blame the wrong person.

Synonyms: misjudge; misdirect; mistake; err; blunder.

Example Sentences

1. The team was barking up the wrong tree by investing in a product nobody wanted.
2. She’s barking up the wrong tree if she thinks quitting her job will solve all her problems.
3. You’re barking up the wrong tree by trying to fix the symptom instead of the cause.
4. If you think I broke your phone, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
5. The police were barking up the wrong tree by arresting the wrong suspect.
6. The manager is barking up the wrong tree by blaming the marketing team for poor sales.

Origin and History

The most widely accepted explanation traces the phrase to 19th‑century hunting traditions in the United States. Hunters often used dogs, especially coonhounds, to track raccoons and other small animals. These animals frequently escaped by climbing trees. In their eagerness, the hounds sometimes stopped at the wrong tree, barking furiously even when the animal had already fled or was never there. Upon finding the dogs misled, hunters would say they were barking up the wrong tree — a perfect metaphor for wasted effort and mistaken belief.

Earliest Printed Record

The earliest known printed use of the idiom appears in 1833 in The Adventures of Colonel Crockett’s Texas Rifleman. This American work uses the phrase in a way that clearly matches its modern figurative meaning. While there may have been earlier uses in speech, the 1833 example is generally regarded as the first verifiable record. Its strong link to American frontier life supports the hunting‑origin theory.

Misguided Accusations Theory

Some interpretations extend beyond hunting and connect the phrase to false accusations in frontier communities. In such cases, groups might wrongly direct blame or suspicion toward an innocent person. When the real culprit was found, people could remark that the accusers had been barking up the wrong tree — turning the hunting image into a social metaphor for misplaced blame.

Mistaken Identity Theory

Another related idea ties the expression to earlier concepts of mistaken identity. In the days before reliable identification methods, innocent individuals were sometimes accused or pursued in error. Discovering the mistake would be akin to realizing one was pursuing the wrong person — in effect, barking up the wrong tree.

Folkloric Embellishment

A colorful but purely fictional legend tells of a frontiersman named Silas and his dog, Sassafras. The story claims Sassafras once barked at a beehive in a tree, mistaking its buzzing for a wild animal. Silas prepared for a long hunt only to find there was no game, just bees. While entertaining, this tale has no documented historical basis but illustrates the phrase’s meaning in a vivid, humorous way.

Conclusion

Although various imaginative explanations exist, the hunting‑and‑hounds theory remains the most credible and historically supported origin for bark up the wrong tree. The vivid image of a dog barking at an empty tree perfectly conveys the idiom’s enduring meaning — pursuing the wrong target, blaming the wrong party, or wasting effort on a misguided path.

Variants

• bark at the wrong tree
• barking at the wrong tree

Animal, Dog, Tree

Last update: August 3, 2025 8:31 AM