Run before Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈɹən/ /ˌbiˈfɔɹ/, /bɪˈfɔɹ

RUN bi-FOR

UK

ɹˈʌn/ /bɪfˈɔː

run bi-FAW

Definition

To try doing something advanced or difficult before having the basic skills or preparation for it; from the saying "don’t run before you can walk."

Usage & Nuances

Idiom used to warn against doing things out of order; often given as advice. Most common as 'don't run before you can walk.' Used in both formal and informal contexts. Can be literal (children learning to walk) but is usually metaphorical.

• Spanish: correr antes (de andar) - intentar algo antes de estar preparado
• Portuguese (BR): correr antes (de andar) - tentar algo antes de estar pronto
• Portuguese (PT): correr antes (de andar) - tentar algo antes de estar pronto
• Chinese (Simplified): 还不会走就想跑 - 没准备好就想做难事
• Chinese (Traditional): 還不會走就想跑 - 還沒準備好就做困難的事
• Hindi: पहले दौड़ना (चलने से पहले) - तैयारी से पहले कुछ करने की कोशिश
• Arabic: الركض قبل (المشي) - محاولة شيء قبل أن تكون جاهزًا
• Bengali: হাঁটার আগে **দৌড়ানো** - প্রস্তুতির আগে কিছু করা চেষ্টা করা
• Russian: бежать раньше (чем научился ходить) - пытаться что-то сделать без подготовки
• Japanese: 歩く前に**走る** - 準備できていないのに難しいことをしようとする
• Vietnamese: chạy trước (khi chưa đi được) - thử điều gì đó khi chưa sẵn sàng
• Korean: 걷기도 전에 **달리다** - 준비가 안 된 상태에서 어려운 것 시도
• Turkish: daha yürümeyi öğrenmeden koşmak - hazır olmadan bir şey yapmak
• Urdu: چلنے سے پہلے **دوڑنا** - کسی چیز کے لیے تیار ہونے سے پہلے کوشش کرنا
• Indonesian: berlari sebelum (bisa berjalan) - mencoba sesuatu sebelum siap

Example Sentences

You shouldn't run before you can walk.

basic

If you run before you are ready, you might fail.

basic

He tried to run before learning the basics.

basic

Don’t try to run before you know what you’re doing.

natural

Sometimes it's better to take things slow than to run before you're ready.

natural

She tends to run before she's learned all the steps, which gets her into trouble.

natural