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Barking up the wrong tree is an idiomatic expression in English, which is used to suggest a mistaken emphasis in a specific context. The phrase is an allusion to the mistake made by dogs when they believe they have chased a prey up a tree, but the game may have escaped by leaping from one tree to another.〔Walsh, William Shepard. (1909). ( ''Handy-book of literary curiosities,'' p. 80. )〕 The phrase means to mistake one's object, or to pursue the wrong course to obtain it. In other words, "if you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong."〔(Use English )〕 ==Historical usage== * 1833 – "It doesn't take a Philadelphia lawyer to tell that the man who serves the master one day, and the enemy six, has just six chances out of seven to go to the devil. You are ''barking up the wrong tree,'' Johnson."—James Hall, ''Legends of the West,'' p. 46.〔Thornton, Richard H. and Louise Hanley. (1912). ''An American glossary,'' p. 43.〕 * 1833 – "I told him that he reminded me of the meanest thing on God's earth, an old coon dog ''barking up the wrong tree''." -- ''Sketches of David Crockett," p. 58. (New York).〔 *1834 – "(Indians ) to use a Western phrase, ''barked up the wrong tree'' when they got hold of Tom Smith." * 1836 – "You've been ''barking up the wrong tree,'' cried the Ohioan." -- ''Knickerbocker Magazine,'' p. vii. 15 January 1836.〔 * 1838 – "Instead of having treed their game, gentlemen will find themselves still ''barking up the wrong tree''." -- Mr. Duncan of Ohio in the United States House of Representatives, July 7: ''Congressional Globe,'' p. 474, Appendix.〔 * 1839 – "The same reckless indifference which causes a puppy to ''bark up the wrong tree.'' -- Chemung (NY) Democrat,'' September 18. 1839.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Barking up the wrong tree」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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