barking

be barking mad (British & Australian, old-fashioned)

to be crazy. You went swimming in the sea in the middle of winter? You must be barking mad!

See also: bark, mad

be barking up the wrong tree (informal)

to be wrong about the reason for something or the way to achieve something. New evidence suggests that we have been barking up the wrong tree in our search for a cure.

See also: bark, tree, wrong

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barking up the wrong tree

believing the wrong explanation for something. He had nothing to do with the robbery — the cops are really barking up the wrong tree this time.

See also: bark, tree, wrong