Put the cart before the horse

Put the cart before the horse

Definition
Put the cart before the horse
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“Put the cart before the horse” is a fun expression that means doing things in the wrong order or getting things mixed up. When we say someone is putting the cart before the horse, it means they’re doing things in the wrong order or prioritizing things incorrectly. For example, let’s say you want to bake a cake. Normally, you would start by gathering the ingredients, mixing them, and then putting the batter in the oven. But if you put the batter in the oven before mixing the ingredients, you'd be putting the cart before the horse.

This idiom is often used to remind people to do things in the proper sequence or to prioritize correctly. Sometimes people might get excited or rush into things without thinking, and that’s when this expression comes in handy. It’s a playful way of reminding them to take a step back and make sure they’re doing things in a logical and sensible order.

Similar idioms: Sorry, I Dropped The Ball On That | We're In The Homestretch | Let's Not Reinvent The Wheel | We're Playing Catch-Up | Bite The Bullet

Example sentences
She wanted to start selling her artwork, but she opened an online store before even creating any pieces and she really put the cart before the horse.
The company launched a new product without conducting market research and they definitely got things mixed up and put the cart before the horse.
He tried to fix the plumbing issue without turning off the water supply and he got ahead of himself and put the cart before the horse.
They planned a big party before even sending out invitations and they really jumped the gun and put the cart before the horse.
She signed up for a marathon without even running a mile, she definitely put the cart before the horse with that decision.