be barking up the wrong tree



be barking up the wrong tree

  (informal)
to be wrong about the reason for something or the way to achieve something New evidence suggests that we have been barking up the wrong tree in our search for a cure.
See also: bark, tree, up, wrong

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
MiŁOgostmee-WAW-gawstPolish (Rare)
Zlatica-Croatian, Czech, Slovak
Caerwyn-Welsh
RakelRAH-kel (Norwegian, Danish, Swedish)Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Icelandic
Rosannahro-ZAN-əEnglish (Rare)
Salomeasah-law-ME-ahPolish