cart\ before\ the\ horse

cart\ before\ the\ horse
n. phr. informal
things in wrong order; something backwards or mixed up. - An overused expression. Usually used with "put" but sometimes with "get" or "have".

When the salesman wanted money for goods he hadn't delivered, I told him he was putting the cart before the horse.

To get married first and then get a job is getting the cart before the horse.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • cart before the horse — phrasal : two things in illogical, improper, or unnatural order his emphasis on method at the expense of content puts the cart before the horse …   Useful english dictionary

  • cart before the horse — See the cart before the horse …   English idioms

  • (the) cart before the horse — (put) the cart before the horse to do something that should happen later before other things. Barnhart is putting the cart before the horse by building a stadium before a team has agreed to play there …   New idioms dictionary

  • cart before the horse (to put) — {n. phr.}, {informal} Things in wrong order; something backwards or mixed up. An overused expression. Usually used with put but sometimes with get or have . * /When the salesman wanted money for goods he hadn t delivered, I told him he was… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • cart before the horse (to put) — {n. phr.}, {informal} Things in wrong order; something backwards or mixed up. An overused expression. Usually used with put but sometimes with get or have . * /When the salesman wanted money for goods he hadn t delivered, I told him he was… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • cart\ before\ the\ horse\ to\ put — n. phr. informal things in wrong order; something backwards or mixed up. An overused expression. Usually used with put but sometimes with get or have . When the salesman wanted money for goods he hadn t delivered, I told him he was putting the… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • the cart before the horse — backwards, back to front    Having dessert before dinner is putting the cart before the horse …   English idioms

  • To get the cart before the horse — Cart Cart (k[aum]rt), n. [AS. cr[ae]t; cf. W. cart, Ir. & Gael. cairt, or Icel. kartr. Cf. {Car}.] 1. A common name for various kinds of vehicles, as a Scythian dwelling on wheels, or a chariot. Ph[oe]bus cart. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. A two… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To put the cart before the horse — Cart Cart (k[aum]rt), n. [AS. cr[ae]t; cf. W. cart, Ir. & Gael. cairt, or Icel. kartr. Cf. {Car}.] 1. A common name for various kinds of vehicles, as a Scythian dwelling on wheels, or a chariot. Ph[oe]bus cart. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. A two… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To set the cart before the horse — Cart Cart (k[aum]rt), n. [AS. cr[ae]t; cf. W. cart, Ir. & Gael. cairt, or Icel. kartr. Cf. {Car}.] 1. A common name for various kinds of vehicles, as a Scythian dwelling on wheels, or a chariot. Ph[oe]bus cart. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. A two… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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