Put the cart before the horse
phrase
To do things in the wrong order.
He started decorating the room before he even bought the house. He always puts the cart before the horse.
Often appears as...
- always puts the cart before the horse
- putting the cart before the horse again
Usage tips
Idiomatic
phrase
To reverse the proper order or process of things.
By proposing before knowing if she feels the same way, he is putting the cart before the horse.
Often appears as...
- he puts the cart before the horse
- don't put the cart before the horse
Usage tips
Idiomatic
phrase
To do things in the wrong order.
He started decorating the room before he even bought the house. He always puts the cart before the horse.
Often appears as...
- always puts the cart before the horse
- putting the cart before the horse again
Usage tips
Idiomatic
phrase
To reverse the proper order or process of things.
By proposing before knowing if she feels the same way, he is putting the cart before the horse.
Often appears as...
- he puts the cart before the horse
- don't put the cart before the horse
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Sequence Matters
The phrase emphasizes the importance of steps in a process.
Plan before you act, or you'll be putting the cart before the horse.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal
The phrase is metaphorical, not referring to an actual cart or horse.
Deciding on a job title before the job role is like putting the cart before the horse.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Nuance
It's an English idiom that might not translate directly in other languages.
Having lived abroad, she knew saying 'put the cart before the horse' might confuse her non-English friends.
Pro Tip 1/3Sequence Matters
The phrase emphasizes the importance of steps in a process.
Plan before you act, or you'll be putting the cart before the horse.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal
The phrase is metaphorical, not referring to an actual cart or horse.
Deciding on a job title before the job role is like putting the cart before the horse.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Nuance
It's an English idiom that might not translate directly in other languages.
Having lived abroad, she knew saying 'put the cart before the horse' might confuse her non-English friends.
Pro Tip 1/3Sequence Matters
The phrase emphasizes the importance of steps in a process.
Plan before you act, or you'll be putting the cart before the horse.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Literal
The phrase is metaphorical, not referring to an actual cart or horse.
Deciding on a job title before the job role is like putting the cart before the horse.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Nuance
It's an English idiom that might not translate directly in other languages.
Having lived abroad, she knew saying 'put the cart before the horse' might confuse her non-English friends.
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