want to go south while driving the chariot northward—act in a way that defeats the purpose; head in the opposite direction;poles apart (/asunder); run counter to
❍ 要胜利又忽视政治动员，叫做“南其辕而北其辙”，结果必然取消了胜利。(《毛泽东选集》448) To wish for victory and yet neglect political mobilization is like wishing to “go south by driving the chariot north”，and the result would inevitably be to forfeit victory.
❍ 多谢娘娘指引枉了上下俄延，都做了北辙南辕。(洪昇《长生殿》)Thank you for your directions. I have travelled up and down on the wrong track!
南辕北辙
try to go south by driving the chariot northward—go to the opposite direction;be poles apart
南辕北辙nán yuán běi zhé
辕：车辕，车子前面驾牲口的部分； 辙：指车轮碾过的痕迹。想往南面去，而车子却向北行。比喻办事不按事理，结果必然与愿望相反，永远达不到目的。act in a way that defeats one’s purpose, run counter to as wide as the poles apart, poles apart