# put the cart before the horse

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/put-the-cart-before-the-horse
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To put things in the wrong order or with the wrong priorities; to put something inconsequential as more important than something more essential.

## Examples

- 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.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.