shut the stable door after the horse has bolted

Meaning: To take precautions only after the harm is done.

Example: “Changing the passwords after the leak was shutting the stable door after the horse had bolted.”

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

right under one's nose Very close, yet unnoticed.
bend over backwards To make a great effort to help or please someone.
be afraid of one's own shadow To be very timid and easily frightened.
a blessing in disguise Something that seems bad at first but turns out well.
teach your grandmother to suck eggs To give advice to someone who knows far more than you.
big deal Said sarcastically to mean something is not important at all.

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