bark up the wrong tree，走錯路線

還記得習語 all bark and no bite，它寓意「光說不練，只會動嘴皮子」，今天又多了一個有關於 bark 的習語 bark up the wrong tree，可以意為「攻擊錯了目標，走錯誤路線，把方法搞錯或想偏」，寓意：

waste one's efforts by pursuing the wrong thing or path

因追求錯誤的事物或道路而浪費精力

to make a wrong choice

做出錯誤的選擇

make a mistake or wrong assumption in something you are trying to achieve

在你想要實現的事情上犯一個錯誤或錯誤的假設

take a wrong approach to something

對某事採取錯誤的方法

例如：

It was a very sensitive case and yet for over one year the investigators kept barking up the wrong tree.

這是一個非常敏感的案件，然而一年多以來，調查人員一直在找錯方向。

解析：keep doing sth 表示繼續或重複做某事。

If you think you will solve the problem by following those steps, you are barking up the wrong tree.

如果你認為按照這些步驟就能解決問題，那你就錯了。

I am not the person who spread those rumours about you, you are barking up the wrong tree.

我不是散布那些關於你的謠言的人，你說錯話了。

解析：關係代詞 who 引導的限制性定語從句，修飾先行詞 the person.

I had kept telling you all along that you are barking up the wrong tree, yet you did not pay any heed and continued doing it.

我一直在告訴你，你找錯了方向，但你沒有理會，繼續這樣做。

解析：pay heed to sb/sth 意為「留心，注意，聽從」。

I think they are barking up the wrong tree by focusing on the problems they have. They should focus on the solutions instead.

我認為他們把注意力集中在他們所面臨的問題上，是找錯了方向。他們應該集中精力解決問題。

解析：instead 句中的動作是要去做的，而 instead of 後面的動作或是事情是要被替代的。

三思而後行，正確的方法可以事半功倍，否則容易 一無所獲（draw a blank）。