The correct meaning of the underlined idiom in the sentence:
The Swedish Scientists realized that they had been barking up the wrong tree, is:
A. Shouting at someone unnecessarily.
B. Following the wrong course of action.
C. Arguing for the wrong reason.
D. Behaving in a crazy manner.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → B only
To be barking up the wrong tree means to follow the wrong course of action: to look for something in the wrong place or pursue a mistaken line of thought. The idiom comes from hunting dogs barking at the foot of a tree the hunted animal never climbed. The Swedish scientists realised that their line of work had been the wrong one, so the meaning is (B).
Example: If you think I took your pen, you are barking up the wrong tree.