[get|have] the wrong end of the stick
1
to fail to understand or interpret or understand something correctly
The origin of the idiom "get the wrong end of the stick" is not entirely clear, but it is thought to have emerged in the late 19th century, likely in British English. The "stick" in this phrase may refer to a long pole or staff, and the "wrong end" suggests a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the situation, much like holding the wrong end of a physical stick would lead to an awkward or ineffective result. This expression is used when someone has misunderstood a situation, statement, or intention, often leading to confusion or an incorrect conclusion.
- I think you've got the wrong end of the stick.I didn't mean it that way.
- She got the wrong end of the stick and thought the meeting was canceled.
- Don't get the wrong end of the stick; I was just joking.
- He had the wrong end of the stick about our plans for the weekend.