At times, specific breeds of dogs are used when hunting animals. Once a dog finds another animal, a chase ensues, and the fleeing animal will tend to utilize the nearby trees as a means of escape. Since most dogs are not capable tree climbers, they are content with remaining at the base of the tree and barking repeatedly to indicate to their owner where the terrified animal has gone.
Dogs are not perfect, so they can often times mistake what particular tree the animal fled to, and thus, as the saying goes, the dog is barking up the wrong tree.
Phrase Origin
This phrase seems to have its origin located in the early 19th century, as there are multiple historcial quotes that put this saying to use.
For example, in 1836, Knickerbocker Magazine wrote: "You've been barking up the wrong tree, cried the Ohioan."
The Familiar Expression Used In Basic Sentences:
"Jason was barking up the wrong tree when he wrongfully accused me of stealing his cell phone. Where's the trust?"
"My wife is barking up the wrong tree if she thinks I'm clueless on what she did in the kitchen! Really, how do you eat an entire ice cream container in two days?!"
Note: For most popular expressions, finding the exact person or date in which a originated is very difficult. For instance, the modern meaning for this phrase was used in the early 19th century in a magazine. The saying was already well-known to people of that time, considering its being put to use in a magazine, so the origins are likely much older.
What's given is the approximate earliest date in which a phrase has been recorded in books, poems, or plays. Now go find more familiar sayings and their meanings, before the site crashes or something.
- According to pets.ca, the average lifespan of a dog is 12.8 years, depending on the breed. The oldest dog to ever live was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey, who was 29 years old.
- Trees can live for thousands of years. The oldest tree, named Old Tjikko, is said to be 9,550 years old.
- The tallest living tree is a coast redwood named Hyperion, and is 393 feet tall. It's located in California.
