Bark up the wrong tree

The phrase "bark up the wrong tree" means to pursue or accuse the wrong person or thing, or to have a mistaken belief or assumption about something. It originates from the behavior of hunting dogs that bark at the base of a tree where they believe their quarry is hiding, even though the prey is actually in a different tree. This idiom is used to convey the idea of investing time, effort, or blame in an incorrect direction.