How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms. R. W. Holder. 2014.
(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
the cart before the horse — backwards, back to front Having dessert before dinner is putting the cart before the horse … English idioms
in the cart — adverb (or adjective) slang Britain : in an embarrassing position (as from deception or defeat) * * * in the cart (slang) 1. In an awkward predicament 2. In trouble • • • Main Entry: ↑cart … Useful english dictionary
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
put the cart before the horse — To reverse the natural or sensible order of things • • • Main Entry: ↑cart put the cart before the horse see under ↑cart • • • Main Entry: ↑horse * * * put the cart before the horse phrase to do one thing before another thing that you should have … Useful english dictionary
Lancelot: The Knight of the Cart — by Chrétien de Troyes (ca. 1176–82) Probably the fourth of the five extant Arthurian verse ROMANCES by the French poet CHRÉTIEN DE TROYES, Lancelot: The Knight of the Cart is thought to have been written sometime close to the writing of… … Encyclopedia of medieval literature
don’t put the cart before the horse — Most commonly as the phrase (putting) the cart before the horse. c 1520 R. WHITTINGTON Vulgaria (1527) 2 That techer setteth the carte before the horse that preferreth imitacyon before preceptes. 1589 G. PUTTENHAM Arte of English Poesie (Arber)… … Proverbs new dictionary
put the cart before the horse — See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE … Dictionary of American idioms
