Home › Idioms

put the cart before the horse

Meaning: To reverse the necessary or expected order of two things; to put a later step first.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Category: Animals

Origin: The expression suggests that one is reversing the natural order of things. The cart must go after the horse in order to get anywhere.

More idioms — Animals

  • sacred cow — An idea or thing that cannot be altered.
  • something to crow about — An exceptional accomplishment; an achievement that is worth bragging about.
  • take the bull by the horns — To take action in a difficult or unpleasant situation.
  • talk turkey — To talk seriously, usually about a business deal.
  • white elephant — An item that no one wants to buy or that is difficult to get rid of; a costly but useless…
  • wild-goose chase — A useless or difficult search.

More English idioms

  • wolf in sheep's clothing — Someone who presents himself as a harmless person, but who has intentions that are not ho…
  • apple of one's eye — A person or thing that is precious or loved above all else.
  • big cheese — An important, powerful or influential person.
  • bite the dust — To be destroyed or ruined beyond repair; slang for "to die".
  • bitter pill to swallow — A difficult or unpleasant reality to deal with.
  • black tie — Formal dress in which men wear black bow ties and dinner jackets or tuxedos and women wea…

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…