Select the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom or phrase: Barking up the wrong tree.

Introduction / Context:

Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot be understood simply by translating the individual words. The phrase barking up the wrong tree comes from hunting imagery, where a dog might bark at a tree that does not actually contain the animal it is chasing. In modern usage, this idiom is applied to situations where someone is pursuing a mistaken line of thought or blaming the wrong person.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The idiom is Barking up the wrong tree.

- The options are: scolding the one who is innocent, expecting a favour from a heartless person, looking in the wrong place, and requesting but in an arrogant manner.

- Only one option should capture the main idea of making a wrong assumption or following the wrong lead.

- We assume the standard figurative meaning used in everyday English.

Concept / Approach:

Barking up the wrong tree means directing effort or blame in the wrong direction, such as accusing the wrong suspect or trying a strategy that cannot succeed because the basic assumption is wrong. Looking in the wrong place describes this idea well, because it suggests searching where the answer or target is not actually located. While scolding the innocent person sometimes overlaps with accusing the wrong person, the idiom is broader and covers any mistaken line of action, not just scolding.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Consider an example: If you think money alone will bring you happiness, you are barking up the wrong tree. Replacing the idiom with looking in the wrong place keeps the meaning: If you think money alone will bring you happiness, you are looking in the wrong place. The sentence still warns about a mistaken focus. The other options either change the situation to scolding or begging and therefore do not fit every possible context in which the idiom is used.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Scolding the one who is innocent is wrong because it only captures one type of error, whereas the idiom also applies to mistaken theories or strategies. Expecting a favour from a heartless person is wrong because it emphasises the emotional character of the person, not the wrong target of effort. Requesting but in an arrogant manner is wrong because it focuses on tone rather than the correctness of the direction. None of these options fully reflect the broader idea of misdirected effort or attention.

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes treat idioms too literally and imagine a dog barking and a tree, leading them to select options that mention animals or anger. Others pick a very specific situation that seems somewhat related rather than the broad meaning. The best approach is to memorise a short, clear paraphrase of common idioms and then pick the option that matches that paraphrase most closely, not one that invents a new story.

Final Answer:

The idiom barking up the wrong tree means looking in the wrong place or pursuing a mistaken line of action.