[lojban-beginners] Re: attempt at translation

[Michael Turniansky <mturniansky@gmail.com>]

On Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 2:51 PM,  <MorphemeAddict@wmconnect.com> wrote:
> In a message dated 9/18/2009 13:23:03 Eastern Daylight Time,
> ivo.doko@gmail.com writes:
>
>
> 2009/9/18 Â<MorphemeAddict@wmconnect.com>:
>> What's an English literal version of the same?
>>
>> stevo
>
> Wiktionary is your friend:
> http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bark_up_the_wrong_tree :)
>
> As far as I understand it, it is also used when someone is accusing a
> wrong person of something, which also falls under following a false
> lead I guess.
>
>
> I was thinking it's like focusing your attention in the wrong direction or
> on a wrong object.
>
> stevo

  It is.  The metaphor is from fox hunting.  If a dog follows what he
mistakenly thinks is the scent of the fox, and believes he has treed
it (forcing it up a tree), he will will stay at the base of the tree,
and bark, to alert the hunt that he's found the fox.  But of course,
in this case, he will be barking up the wrong tree.  So,
metaphorically, following a false lead or making a false assumption or
taking a wrong approach to a problem, is "barking up the wrong tree".

                --gejyspa