put the cart before the horse

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to do things in the wrong order

Why this phrase?

A cart must follow the horse that pulls it, so reversing them provides a clear image of doing things in the wrong order.

Example

“Writing the API before deciding the data model puts the cart before the horse.”

Dictionary details

Component words

cart horse

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

straight from the horse's mouth Informal · CEFR B2

from the most reliable, first-hand source

brain power Informal · CEFR B1

intelligence or mental ability used to think and solve problems

easier said than done Neutral · CEFR B1

Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.

for the time being Neutral · CEFR B1

temporarily, until circumstances change

last but not least Neutral · CEFR B1

final in order but no less important

slippery slope Neutral · CEFR B1

a course of action that seems small or harmless but leads, step by step, to a serious or disastrous result

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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