barks up the wrong tree

A form of bark up the wrong tree — To take the wrong approach to a situation; to follow a false lead; to attempt to solve a problem using mistaken assumptions about its true nature.

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Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of bark up the wrong tree
Cite this entry
APA

barks up the wrong tree. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barks%20up%20the%20wrong%20tree

MLA

“barks up the wrong tree.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barks%20up%20the%20wrong%20tree. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “barks up the wrong tree,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barks%20up%20the%20wrong%20tree.

Source: barks up the wrong tree on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.