where did the idiom barking up the wrong tree come from
Barking up the wrong tree Barking up the wrong tree became common use in nineteenth century America in reference to hunting raccoons with a hunting dog. When the nocturnal animal takes to a tree, the dog is supposed to remain at the base of the tree until its master arrives. However, in the dark, if the dog mistakes the tree where the raccoon has taken refuge, the hunter may lose it. The expression was commonly used by writers of western life and tales, appearing in works by James Hall, David Crockett, and Albert Pike.[3]
Knocking on wood The origin of the custom may be in German folklore, wherein supernatural beings are thought to live in trees, and can be invoked for protection.[1][2]