put the cart before the horse
To put things in the wrong order or with the wrong priorities; to put something inconsequential as more important than something more essential.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You are putting the cart before the horse by buying furniture before moving.”
“Planning the wedding party before you have a budget is putting the cart before the horse.”
“By focusing on the marketing campaign before finalizing the product design, the team was clearly putting the cart before the horse.”
- 01
bankrupt cart
A one-horse chaise.
- 02
beat a dead horse
To persist or continue far beyond any purpose, interest or reason.
- 03
change horses in midstream
To change one's plan or approach when an effort is already underway or at another inopportune time.
- 04
charley horse
A muscle cramp, usually a strong one, in the thigh, leg, arm, or core.
- 05
close the stable door after the horse has bolted
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).
- 06
dark horse
Someone who possesses talents or favorable characteristics that are not known or expected by others.
- 07
drive a coach and horses through
To spoil, break or render ineffective (a rule, plan or agreement).
- 08
enough to choke a horse
An excessive quantity.
Last updated August 10, 2026