Subtitles section Play video
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Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.
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I'm Feifei...
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Rob: And I'm Rob. Hello.
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Errr, Feifei, you're looking a bit angry.
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Feifei: Me, angry! I am angry.
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Rob: Oh no, what's the problem?
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Feifei: I think you know Rob.
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Somebody told the boss
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that I spilt coffee over his computer
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yesterday - and now he's angry with me.
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Rob: Oh no. What kind of mean and horrible person
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would try and get you into trouble?
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Feifei: You and the boss were the only people
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left in the office last night. Hmmm?
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Rob: Whoa - hold on Feifei. If you are implying
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it was me who told the boss, then you are
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barking up the wrong tree.
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Feifei: Please don't make me any angrier
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by saying that I am like a dog!
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Rob: No, no Feifei. Just calm down.
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I should be angry because you are making the wrong
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assumption about who told the boss, OK?
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That's what I mean by barking up the wrong tree -
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you want to blame someone but you got the wrong
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person. I didn't even know you had done it.
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Feifei: OK, I'm sorry. So the phrase 'barking up the wrong
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tree' means making the wrong assumption
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when trying to achieve something.
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Shall we hear some examples while I make you
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a coffee to say sorry...?
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Examples: If you think I have enough spare cash
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to pay for your holiday, then you're
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barking up the wrong tree.
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You're barking up the wrong tree if you think
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I was the one who said you were leaving.
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It wasn't me!
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You're barking up the wrong tree if you think
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I'm going to lend you my car. I've seen how you drive!
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Feifei: You're listening to The English We Speak.
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We're talking about the phrase
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'barking up the wrong tree'.
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It means to make a wrong assumption
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about someone or something.
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Rob: The phrase can also mean doing something
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in a way that will not work - you're basically
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wasting your time. Like a detective trying to solve
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a crime by obviously arresting the
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wrong man - he's barking up the wrong tree.
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Feifei: Ok Rob understood - and here's your coffee
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to say sorry for barking up the wrong tree.
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Rob: Thanks - make sure you don't spill it this time.
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The boss would be really angry!
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(ANGRY DOG GROWL!) ...what did I say?
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Feifei: If I find out you did tell the boss,
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I'll make sure to bark up the right tree,
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OK?
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Rob: Oh Feifei, I hope your bark is worse than your bite.
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Bye.
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Feifei: Bye