Misconstruction of bark up the wrong tree

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of go at

past participle of go at

present participle of go at

simple past tense of go at

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see go, at. / To try to solve a problem a specific way; to undertake a task. / To initiate an attack on or an argument with.

To charge at someone; to advance as though to attack.

(African-American Vernacular, transitive) To call on a telephone; to contact or maintain contact with. / (African-American Vernacular, transitive) To express romantic or sexual interest in.

To continually or inexorably harm someone; to continue to do harm; to needle over time; to weaken someone over time.

To grasp, or attempt to grasp, something or somebody, using one's hand, usually in a rough or rude manner.