Barking Up The Wrong Tree / myLot

United States

January 31, 2017 3:18pm CST

According to answers.com, "the idiom 'Barking Up The Wrong Tree' means you are on the wrong track; you are making a fuss at the wrong person or over the wrong thing." While I have heard this expression used in its idiomatic sense numerous times, today I had a chance to use it in its literal sense. When I got home from school and let Ginger and Ace into the backyard. There was a squirrel in the backyard and Ace immediately went after it. The squirrel scampered up a tree and Ace started barking at the base of the tree. What Ace didn't realize was that the squirrel had jumped to the next tree. I laughed when I saw Ace had been fooled. "Ace, you're barking up the wrong tree," I called out, and then realized what I'd said. I wonder how often other idioms get used in their literal sense. Do you find yourself using idioms when you talk or write?

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13 responses

rebelann1949

@rebelann (117226)

• El Paso, Texas

31 Jan 17

Not very often. But I like they way you got to use it, I imagine that would happen to Ally if we had squirrels, so far all we've got is wabbits and a ground squirrel.

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rebelann1949

@rebelann (117226)

• El Paso, Texas

1 Feb 17

Ally isn't fast enough or else they're really fast @DWDavis I haven't seen any lately but I know as soon as there are any plants that look appetizing they'll be back.

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DW Davis

@DWDavis (25797)

• United States

31 Jan 17

We have rabbits, too. Once in a while Ginger will catch one, but Ace isn't quite fast enough.

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Ron Rybs

@Ronrybs (21497)

• London, England

31 Jan 17

I suppose most of the time we use them without realising

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DW Davis

@DWDavis (25797)

• United States

1 Feb 17

I think you're right. We hear them growing up and they become part of our vernacular.

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Go Crossbones

@crossbones27 (52905)

• Mojave, California

31 Jan 17

Funny how animals make you laugh everyday. I use idioms when warrented I suppose. That is a good question and one I never really thought about.

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DW Davis

@DWDavis (25797)

• United States

1 Feb 17

I have to be careful about using them in my writing unless they are more-or-less universally known. Colloquial idioms can confuse readers unless you provide lots of context clues.

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Go Crossbones

@crossbones27 (52905)

• Mojave, California

1 Feb 17

@DWDavis True that

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pgn

@pgntwo (22405)

• Derry, Northern Ireland

31 Jan 17

Bark in a tree context could relate to the covering on the trunk, bark... I doubt it though :) At least the Squirrel wasn't one to keep all his eggs in the same basket!