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Region: General | Usage example: Buying furniture before the office lease is signed puts the cart before the horse.

Put the cart before the horse

Meaning

Do things in the wrong order.

Usage

Used as a cautionary note.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Agricultural imagery of a cart needing horses to pull it.

Used since the 16th century to warn against premature steps.

Related Idioms

Calm before the storm

A peaceful period preceding chaos.

Dark horse

An unexpected contender or talent.

Beat a dead horse

Waste effort on something already decided.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.