Get the wrong end of the stick

Origin: The idiom 'Get the wrong end of the stick' is thought to date back to the 16th century. It originally referred to grabbing a stick by the dirty or less desirable end, metaphorically suggesting that someone has misunderstood or misinterpreted something to their disadvantage.

Examples

• Despite my clear instructions, she got the wrong end of the stick and ended up at the wrong venue.
• When he overheard their conversation, he got the wrong end of the stick and assumed they were plotting against him.
• Sarah thought the meeting was canceled, but she got the wrong end of the stick; the time was merely changed.
• He got the wrong end of the stick when he thought the promotion meant a transfer to a different city.
• During the discussion, she got the wrong end of the stick and believed we were criticizing her work.
• I explained the project requirements, but he got the wrong end of the stick and started working on something entirely different.
• They got the wrong end of the stick, thinking the policy change would benefit them, when in fact, it did the opposite.
• He got the wrong end of the stick and thought the new software was for personal use, not business purposes.
• She got the wrong end of the stick by assuming the invitation was for her alone, not her entire team.
• He got the wrong end of the stick, believing the feedback was negative, when it was actually very constructive.