shut the stable door after the horse has bolted
Meaning: To take precautions only after the harm is done.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Changing the passwords after the leak was shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted.”
Category: Animals
Origin: The image is of locking the stable once the horse is already gone. A version is recorded in English from the 14th century, in John Gower.
Other ways to say this
- Korean: 소 잃고 외양간 고친다 (So ilkko oeyanggan gochinda) — literally: Fix the barn after losing the cow
- Polish: Musztarda po obiedzie — literally: Mustard after dinner
- Persian: نوشدارو بعد از مرگ سهراب (Nushdaroo ba'd az marg-e Sohraab) — literally: The remedy after Sohrab's death
- Czech: Přijít s křížkem po funuse — literally: To come with a little cross after the funeral
- French: Arriver comme les carabiniers — literally: To arrive like the carabineers
- English: a day late and a dollar short
More idioms — Animals
- kick the cat — To take out one's anger on someone weaker or innocent.
- be put out to pasture — To be retired or set aside as no longer useful.
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- Avoir le cafard — To feel depressed or down.
- Poser un lapin — To stand someone up on a date.
- Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter — To have more important things to do.
More English idioms
- many hands make light work — A job is easier when many people share it.
- right under one's nose — Very close, yet unnoticed.
- Rome wasn't built in a day — Important things take time.
- bend over backwards — To make a great effort to help or please someone.
- better late than never — It is better to do something late than not at all.
- be afraid of one's own shadow — To be very timid and easily frightened.
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