1.
barking up the wrong tree; misdirected; wrong address
Directing a complaint, request, or action at the wrong person or place. Originally meant going to the wrong gate (門) of a house, and now describes any situation where someone's efforts or blame are aimed at the wrong target.
それはお門違いだ。
You're barking up the wrong tree.
私に文句を言うのはお門違いです。
Complaining to me is misdirected.
担当でもない人に責任を求めるのはお門違いというものだ。
Demanding responsibility from someone who isn't even in charge is completely misdirected.
Literally 'wrong gate' — from the idea of going to the wrong house by mistake. The 門 (gate) here refers to the entrance of a house in traditional Japanese neighborhoods. The お prefix adds a slight softening.
USAGE:
Most commonly used in the pattern お門違いだ to tell someone their complaint or request is directed at the wrong person. Can also be used attributively: お門違いの苦情 (a misdirected complaint).
COMMON PATTERNS:
- お門違いだ — that's misdirected
- お門違いもいいところだ — that's completely off base
- お門違いの苦情 — a misdirected complaint
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 筋違い — misdirected; wrong approach; very similar meaning but focuses on the logic being wrong
- 見当違い — mistaken; off the mark; a wrong guess or assumption
- 的外れ — off target; missing the point