Barking up the wrong tree: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|English language expression for a mistaken emphasis}}

{{Wiktionary|bark up the wrong tree}}

'''Barking up the wrong tree''' is an [[idiomatic|idiomatic expression]] in English, which is used to suggest a mistaken emphasis in a specific context. The phrase is an allusion to the mistake made by dogs when they believe they have [[Treeing|chased a prey up a tree]], but the game may have escaped by leaping from one tree to another.<ref>Walsh, William Shepard. (1909). [https://archive.org/details/handybooklitera04walsgoog/page/n84 ''Handy-book of literary curiosities,'' p. 80.]</ref> The phrase means to mistake one's object, or to pursue the wrong course to obtain it.

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* 1833 – "I told him that he reminded me of the meanest thing on God's earth, an old coon dog ''barking up the wrong tree''." – ''Sketches of David Crockett,'' p. 58. (New York).<ref name="Thornton43"/>

* 1834 – "[The Indians] to use a Western phrase, ''barked up the wrong tree'' when they got hold of Tom Smith."<ref>{{cite book|last=Pike|first=Albert|title=Prose Sketches and Poems Written in the Western Country|publisher=Publisher Kessinger Publishing|year=2003|pages=30|isbn=978-0-7661-4465-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kGebqlS7J78C&q=barked|accessdate=2010-01-18}}</ref>

* 1836 – "You've been ''barking up the wrong tree,'' cried the Ohioan." – ''Knickerbocker Magazine,'' p. vii. 15 January 1836.<ref name="Thornton43"/>

* 1838 – "Instead of having treed their game, gentlemen will find themselves still ''barking up the wrong tree''." – Mr. Duncan of Ohio in the [[United States House of Representatives]], July 7: ''Congressional Globe,'' p. 474, Appendix.<ref name="Thornton43"/>

* 1839 – "The same reckless indifference which causes a puppy to ''bark up the wrong tree.''" – ''Chemung (NY) Democrat,'' September 18. 1839.<ref name="Thornton43"/>

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[[Category:English-language idioms]]

[[Category:Dog training and behavior]]

[[Category:Metaphors referring to dogs]]