T-learning # Idiom
Speak Like a Native

She’s barking up the wrong tree !

Choose the correct definition a, b or c.

a) She’s making the wrong choice.

Well done ! That’s the right answer.

to bark up the wrong tree’ means to make the wrong choice ; to make a mistake or a false assumption ; to ask the wrong person ; to follow the wrong course.

French translation

se tromper de cible, faire fausse route

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Examples in context

‘Greenies bark up the wrong tree

Often touted as a solution to climate change, forests actually threaten Africa’s savanna ecosystems, writes Kimon de Greef.

Trees are on the move. The composition of the world’s savanna landscapes is changing and carbon dioxide, more famously responsible for tweaking the Earth’s climate, is playing a leading role.’

Mail & Guardian, 9 Nov. 2012

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‘Benitez barking up the wrong tree

"Rafael Benitez showed why he was run out of both Liverpool and Inter Milan in the space of just a few months back in 2010 with Chelsea’s 1-0 loss at home to bottom feeders Queens Park Rangers on Jan 2. Instead of leaving a winning squad alone he suddenly wanted to prove what a genius he is by “rotating” the squad, which basically means leaving some of the squad’s best players on the bench, such as Juan Mata, and Eden Hazard. Instead, the likes of Marko Marin, Victor Moses, and Ryan Bertrand started the match and were ineffective.’

FTB Premier League, 13 Jan. 2013

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Everyday usage

If you think I’m the guilty person, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

If you think that I ate your food, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I wasn’t even home this weekend !

b) She is being unfair.

Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.

c) She’s asking for too much.

Sorry, wrong answer. Please try again.


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