bark up the wrong tree
Pursue mistaken lead
To bark up the wrong tree is to pursue a mistaken course of action or direct effort toward the wrong target.
The phrase comes from hunting dogs that sometimes corner prey at the base of one tree while the animal has escaped into another: If you think I took your wallet, you're barking up the wrong tree.
Hopeless pursuit of nothing
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
- false leadMisleading clue or trail
- chasing shadowsPursuing the unattainable
- false trailMisleading set of clues
dead end · off course · misaimed · off base · wide of the mark · missing the point · false accusation
Error in estimation
- misreadingIncorrect interpretation of text
- faulty reasoningInvalid logical process
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
- jumping to conclusionsForming judgments prematurely
misapprehension · misconception · false premise · misunderstanding · bad call · off the mark · mistaken belief · poor judgment
Producing no useful outcome
- pointlessLacking any purpose
- going nowhereLacking progress or direction
- spinning wheelsFiber-twisting textile devices
- lost causeEndeavor certain to fail
beating a dead horse · fool's errand · exercise in futility · unproductive · unavailing · tilting at windmills · wasted time · in vain
wild goose chase
Hopeless pursuit of nothing
- red herringIntentional misleading distraction
- false leadMisleading clue or trail
- chasing shadowsPursuing the unattainable
false trail · dead end · off course · misaimed · off base · wide of the mark · missing the point · false accusation
miscalculation
Error in estimation
- misreadingIncorrect interpretation of text
- faulty reasoningInvalid logical process
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
jumping to conclusions · misapprehension · misconception · false premise · misunderstanding · bad call · off the mark · mistaken belief · poor judgment
fruitless
Producing no useful outcome
- pointlessLacking any purpose
- going nowhereLacking progress or direction
- spinning wheelsFiber-twisting textile devices
beating a dead horse · lost cause · fool's errand · exercise in futility · unproductive · unavailing · tilting at windmills · wasted time · in vain · bootless
bark up the wrong treeon the right track
Proceeding toward success
hit the nail on the head · correct · right · accurate · on target
barked, barking, wrong, wrongly, wrongness, wrongful, wrongfully, treeing