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Barking up the wrong tree

Barking up the wrong tree

Meaning

Responding to something which isn’t the important issue.

Examples

The government is blaming the immigrants for the banking crisis, but they’re barking up the wrong tree there.

Where did it originate?

Britain, 19th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Barking up the wrong tree

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