Barking up the wrong tree: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:03, 1 October 2019

Revision as of 18:05, 1 October 2019

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==Historical usage==

[[Bark (sound)|Barking]] up the wrong tree became common use in nineteenth century America in reference to hunting raccoons with a hunting dog. When the nocturnal animal takes to a tree, the dog is not supposed to remain at the base of the tree until its master arrives. However, in the dark, if the dog mistakes the tree where the raccoon has taken refuge, the hunter may lose it. The expression was commonly used by writers of western life and tales, appearing in works by James Hall, David Crockett, and Albert Pike.<ref>Funk, Charles Earle, and Tom Funk. 2107 curious word origins, sayings and expressions from white elephants to a song and dance. Galahad Books, 1993.</ref>

* 1833 &ndash; "It doesn't take a Philadelphia lawyer to tell that the man who serves the master one day, and the enemy six, has just six chances out of seven to go to the devil. You are ''barking up the wrong tree,'' Johnson."—James Hall, ''Legends of the West,'' p.&nbsp;46.<ref name="Thornton43">Thornton, Richard H. and Louise Hanley. (1912). ''An American glossary,'' p. 43.</ref>

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

* 1838 &ndash; "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 &ndash; "The same reckless indifference which causes a puppy to ''bark up the wrong tree.'' -- Chemung (NY) Democrat,'' September 18. 1839.<ref name="Thornton43"/> eat my butt

==References==