Bark up the wrong tree：to be wrong about the reason for something or the way to achieve something。

Bark up the wrong tree：指错误地指责或追究某人，或者错误地寻找问题的根源。可以泛指“搞错状况；追错方向；想错了”，也可以翻译为“缘木求鱼；劳而无功”等。

参考双语例句：

She thinks it'll solve the problem, but I think she's barking up the wrong tree.

她认为这样就能解决问题，但我认为她搞错状况了。

If Nancy thinks she can get any special treatment from me because we are family, she 's barking up the wrong tree. This is serious business we are talking about here . If she can't do her job, she will be fired, like anybody else.

如果Nancy认为由于我们是一家人，她肯定可以得到我的特殊照顾，那她可打错如意算盘了。我们现在说的可是严肃的工作问题。如果她完成不了她份内的事，她一样会被开除，就像其他人一样。

Honourable Members, requiring the Government to urge enterprises to fulfil their social responsibility is a bark up the wrong tree because the system and framework are problematic.

各位，如果要求政府督促企业尽社会责任，是缘木求鱼，因为制度有问题，结构有问题。