*** bark up the wrong tree ***

狩猎用语，原指猎犬在错误的树下吠叫，认为猎物在那里。现可以表示误解了情况或找错了方法

词组分解 

bark - 犬吠，吠叫，吼叫咆哮

wrong - 错误的，不合适的

tree - 树木

词组固定搭配

bark up the wrong tree by doing something

例句

I think we are barking up the wrong tree by just increasing the ad budget. Perhaps we should revisit our marketing strategy.

我认为我们仅仅增加广告预算是错误的方法。也许我们应该重新审视我们的营销策略。

We are barking up the wrong tree by blaming the sales team. We need to look at the product quality issues instead.

我们错误地把责任归咎于销售团队。但实际上我们应该检查一下产品质量问题。