Barking Up the Wrong Tree - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Nehasri Ravishenbagam

5 min read

Updated On Dec 11, 2025

Upgrade your IELTS vocabulary with the idiom 'Barking Up the Wrong Tree’ and use it to express pursuing a mistaken course in the IELTS Speaking & Writing Sections. Check out meaning, synonyms, examples, common mistakes to avoid, and more.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Meaning of the Idiom ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing
Exercise on the Idiom ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing

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The idiom ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’ can broaden your lexical range for the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections while talking about making a wrong assumption about something. You can incorporate it when discussing education or providing examples of wrong study techniques, environmental matters, or during technology discussions when companies throw money at the wrong solution. The idiom can easily be used in social and cultural debates, workplace situations, and even relationship-based topics, particularly when misunderstandings or incorrect judgments are being clarified. By adding this in your answers for the IELTS Exam, you can achieve a higher band score of 8+ and build confidence for the exam day.

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Meaning of the Idiom ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’

With a strong foundation in understanding the meaning of the idiom ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’, your band scores for Lexical Resources can be improved. By getting familiar with this IELTS Vocabulary, you can analyze the contexts that it fits and the skills which are necessary for correct usage in IELTS Speaking & Writing sections. The table below gives you the information about the meaning, synonyms, and sentences so that you can confidently incorporate the idiom into your IELTS responses.

Topic	Description
Barking Up the Wrong Tree	Idiom
Definition	To be looking for answers in the wrong place.
Synonyms	Mistaken, On the wrong track, Misguided
Origin	The expression originated in 19th century America when people used dogs to hunt raccoons. When the raccoon climbed up a tree, the dog waited below until its master arrived. However, there was always the chance of the dog identifying the wrong tree.
Example	For IELTS Speaking : I think we’re barking up the wrong tree when we blame the high divorce rate on increased incomes. Man I didn’t tell anyone about you having an affair, you’re barking up the wrong tree! For IELTS Writing : The prosecutor is barking up the wrong tree with his fixation on the glove found at the crime scene. The government is barking up the wrong tree as long as they prioritize defence spending over investing in education.

Check out the video below to learn 9 IELTS Speaking IDIOMS for BAND 9 SCORE!

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing

The idiomatic expression ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’ can add power to your IELTS Speaking & Writing sections. However, there could be times when you use it in the wrong context which can make you sound unnatural in your answers. If you grasp the right definition and also become familiar with the most common mistakes, you will be able to keep your writing and speaking clear and coherent. The table below lists the most common errors in using the idiom so that you can use it correctly in both the Speaking and Writing sections.

Topic	Examples	Description
Environmental Issues	The government is barking up the wrong tree by planting more trees in cities.	INCORRECT : Used in its literal sense, since the idiom has nothing to do with trees at all.
Environmental Issues	Many people think stricter laws alone will solve pollution, but they may be barking up the wrong tree.	CORRECT : This depicts a mistaken belief or approach contextually.
Misunderstanding a Situation	I was barking up the wrong tree when I saw a dog.	INCORRECT : This does not make sense.
Misunderstanding a Situation	I blamed my friend for the mistake, but I was clearly barking up the wrong tree.	CORRECT : This is the correct application in describing a wrong assumption.
Business Strategy	The company is barking up the wrong tree because it wants to grow.	INCORRECT : This sounds very confusing as it is neither an incorrect assumption nor a misguided strategy.
Business Strategy	If companies think cutting staff will boost productivity, they might be barking up the wrong tree.	CORRECT : This is an accurate usage of showing a misguided strategy.
Study Habits	Students should bark up the wrong tree to get higher marks.	INCORRECT : The meaning is not appropriate as the idiom stands for a recommended action.
Study Habits	Students often bark up the wrong tree by memorising essays instead of improving coherence and ideas.	CORRECT : This highlights a mistaken approach in a realistic IELTS context.

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Exercise on the Idiom ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Adding this idiom ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’ to your list of vocabulary will help you improve your lexical control if you practice it regularly. The exercise given below will help you in recognizing the situations where the idiom can be used.

Choose the following idioms to fill in the blank:

Spilled the beans	Kept my chin up	To be over the moon
Hit the nail on the head	On cloud nine	Barking up the wrong tree

1 I was thinking I could repair the computer on my own, but I _______________ .

2 After the first time I attempted the driving test and was unsuccessful, I went on _______________ and tried again.

3 When I learned that I got the scholarship, the news _______________ .

4 In the course of the group project, Sarah offered a suggestion that was very close to the truth and _______________ .

5 I was anxious about giving my presentation, but I ultimately _______________ .

6 I told my younger brother to _______________ , but he almost spoiled the surprise party.

Answer to the Exercise on the Idiom ‘Barking Up the Wrong Tree’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Now it is time to compare your answers with the correct ones so that you can see how the idiom is used well. This exercise will build your confidence and expand your lexical resource which will get you closer to getting a higher IELTS Band Score of 8+.

Hit the nail on the head
Barking up the wrong tree
Spilled the beans
To be over the moon
Keep my chin up
On cloud nine

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While you practice the Speaking and IELTS Writing sections, try this idiom in your answers and in your daily conversations as well. In this way, you will be able to clearly articulate mistakes, misjudgments, and incorrect assumptions effectively and you include this expression. Use this in topics related to social issues, education, and technology as you prepare yourself. So, keep on enhancing your vocabulary and take a step towards your desired band score of 8+.

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