"Bark up the Wrong Tree" 認錯目標

"Bark up the Wrong Tree"
認錯目標,白費心思
"to mistake an aim, to choose the wrong person to deal with.

成語來源:
浣熊(raccoon) 是北美洲一種皮毛價值高的夜行性動物
所以美洲獵人通常在夜間帶著獵犬同行出來打獵
浣熊通常會躲在樹上,因天色黑暗,而獵犬嗅覺超靈敏,只要鼻子一聞就知道浣熊在那顆樹上,並對著那顆樹吠,獵人就馬上捕到獵物,但獵犬並不是每次都那麼準確,有時候也會吠錯樹,反而讓獵物輕易逃走.使得獵人此行白跑一趟!

引申為:認錯目標,白費心思
Ex:
Lily asked her brother to teach her English but she barked up the wrong tree as her brother isn't good at English at all.