ENGLISH
REFERENCE

close the stable door after the horse has bolted

idiom
Meaning

To attempt to prevent a problem that has already occurred; to design and implement a preventive mechanism that is too late (after the first failure instead of before).


Examples
SIMPLE

Adding a lock now is closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

CONTEXTUAL

They installed security cameras only after the robbery, which was just closing the stable door after the horse had bolted.

COMPLEX

By implementing these strict safety protocols only after the catastrophic system failure, the management was merely closing the stable door after the horse had bolted.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bang down the door

    To present oneself as a strong candidate for a role or achievement, explicitly or implicitly.

  2. 02

    beat a dead horse

    To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.

  3. 03

    charley horse

    A muscle cramp, usually a strong one, in the thigh, leg, arm, or core.

  4. 04

    close enough for government work

    Adequate; acceptable as government work, imperfect but not worth the time nor effort of improving.

  5. 05

    close in on

    To enclose around; to tighten or shrink; to collapse.

  6. 06

    close on the heels of

    Near in time or place; very close.

  7. 07

    close one eye

    to look the other way, to deliberately ignore or overlook (a mistake or transgression).

  8. 08

    close one's eyes

    To ignore something.

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