What is the meaning of barking up the wrong tree?
If you’ve ever heard the phrase “barking up the wrong tree,” you may have wondered what it means. This idiom is often used to describe a situation where someone is pursuing a course of action that is unlikely to succeed or achieve the desired outcome. In this article, we’ll explore the origins and meanings of this popular expression.
Barking Up The Wrong Tree – What’s The Meaning?
The phrase “barking up the wrong tree” has its roots in the practice of hunting with dogs. In this context, a hunter would bring his dogs to the base of a tree where a raccoon or other small animal was hiding. The dogs would bark at the tree in an attempt to get the animal to come down. However, sometimes the animal was not actually in that tree, and the dogs were barking at nothing. In this case, the hunter was said to be “barking up the wrong tree.”
Over time, this phrase came to be used more broadly to describe any situation where someone was pursuing the wrong course of action. For example, if someone is trying to solve a problem by looking in the wrong place, they might be said to be barking up the wrong tree. Or if someone is trying to blame the wrong person for a mistake, they might be said to be barking up the wrong tree.
Barking Up The Wrong Tree – Examples
There are a few different ways that this phrase can be used, depending on the context. Here are a few examples:
- To pursue the wrong course of action: If someone is trying to solve a problem or achieve a goal, but their approach is not likely to be successful, they might be said to be barking up the wrong tree. For example, if someone is trying to lose weight by only eating ice cream, they are barking up the wrong tree.
- To look in the wrong place: If someone is trying to find something, but they are looking in the wrong place, they might be said to be barking up the wrong tree. For example, if someone lost their phone and they are looking for it in the fridge, they are barking up the wrong tree.
- To blame the wrong person: If someone is trying to assign blame for a mistake or problem, but they are blaming the wrong person, they might be said to be barking up the wrong tree. For example, if a teacher accuses a student of cheating, but it was actually another student who cheated, the teacher is barking up the wrong tree.
Barking Up The Right Tree – What!?
The phrase “barking up the wrong tree” is often used in a lighthearted way, but it can also be used in more serious situations. For example, if someone is pursuing a business venture that is not likely to be successful, they might be barking up the wrong tree. In this case, it could be important to offer constructive feedback and help them find a more viable path forward.
Barking up the right tree on the other hand is a good thing. This means you are on the right path to solving your problem. For us this means RC! Heading to the trails with an RC or to the skies with a drone puts us on the path to the right tree 🙂 Check out the video below & then we will wrap things up.
In conclusion, the phrase “barking up the wrong tree” has its roots in hunting, but it has come to be used more broadly to describe any situation where someone is pursuing the wrong course of action. Whether you’re trying to solve a problem, find something, or assign blame, it’s important to make sure you’re barking up the right tree. By taking a step back and reevaluating your approach, you can avoid wasting time and energy on a fruitless pursuit.
