How to Pronounce "put the cart before the horse"
expression
PUT thuh KART bi-FOR thuh HORS
put thuh KAHT bif-AW thuh HAWS
Definition
To do things in the wrong order; to start with something that should come later, or to get priorities mixed up.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈpʊt/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈkɑɹt/ /ˌbiˈfɔɹ/, /bɪˈfɔɹ/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈhɔɹs
British English
pʊt/ /ðə, ði/ /kˈɑːt/ /bɪfˈɔː/ /ðə, ði/ /hˈɔːs
Simplified Pronunciation
US
PUT thuh KART bi-FOR thuh HORS
UK
put thuh KAHT bif-AW thuh HAWS
Listen in Context
If you try to build the roof before the walls, you're putting the cart before the horse.
Don't put the cart before the horse when planning your project.
Starting a business without a plan is putting the cart before the horse.
We’re buying decorations before we even have a house—it feels like we’re putting the cart before the horse.