bark up the wrong tree

Sens

to be mistaken about a cause or solution

Se tromper sur la cause ou la solution.

Exemples

1. 1If you're blaming the printer, you're barking up the wrong tree; the file itself is blank.
2. 2The repair team were barking up the wrong tree until they checked the loose cable.
3. 3Anyone blaming the recipe is barking up the wrong tree; the oven never heated up.
4. 4You were barking up the wrong tree by blaming Jo; she wasn't even at the rehearsal.
5. 5Replacing the battery? You're barking up the wrong tree; this camera works only when plugged in.

Grammaire

S'emploie surtout à la forme progressive : be barking up the wrong tree. be varie selon le temps et le sujet ; the wrong tree reste au singulier.

Sens proche