World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionariescolocar a carroça na frente dos bois
Pronunciation / Transliteration: ku.luˈkaɾ a kaˈʁɔ.sɐ na ˈfɾẽ.tɐ duz ˈbojs
"Não coloque a carroça na frente dos bois antes de assinar o contrato."
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To reverse the proper order of things; to do things in the wrong sequence or address a secondary issue before the primary prerequisite.
"Buying wedding rings before you've even been on a first date is definitely putting the cart before the horse." - 2
To act prematurely or focus on the consequences of an event before securing the foundation necessary for it to happen.
"Don't start planning how to spend the prize money before you've actually won the competition—you're putting the cart before the horse."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Originating in the 16th century, this idiom draws upon the obvious practical absurdity of placing a cart in front of the animal meant to pull it, making forward movement impossible. First recorded in English literature around the 1500s, it has historically been used to warn against reversing the logical, natural, or required order of events.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Put the cart before the horse"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Put the cart before the horse" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
mettre la charrue avant les bœufs
Transliteration: metʁ la ʃʁy avɑ̃ le bœ
"Tu mets la charrue avant les bœufs en achetant les meubles avant d'avoir trouvé un appartement."
das Pferd beim Schwanz aufzäumen
Transliteration: das pfeːɐ̯t baɪ̯m ʃvants ˈaʊfˌtsɔɪ̯mən
"Mit dieser Planung zäumen wir das Pferd von hinten auf."
mettere il carro davanti ai buoi
Transliteration: ˈmɛt.te.re il ˈkar.ro daˈvan.ti ai ˈbwɔi
"Stai mettendo il carro davanti ai buoi festeggiando prima dell'esame."
poner el carro delante de los bueyes
Transliteration: poˈneɾ el ˈkaro deˈlante de los ˈbweʝes
"Estás poniendo el carro delante de los bueyes al planear la fiesta sin haber aprobado."
colocar a carroça na frente dos bois
Transliteration: ku.luˈkaɾ a kaˈʁɔ.sɐ na ˈfɾẽ.tɐ duz ˈbojs
"Não coloque a carroça na frente dos bois antes de assinar o contrato."
उल्टी गंगा बहना
Transliteration: ulti ganga bahna
"बिना सोचे काम करना ऐसा है जैसे उल्टी गंगा बहाना।"
本末倒置
Transliteration: běn mò dào zhì
"你这样做简直是本末倒置，先要把基础打好。"
본말전도하다
Transliteration: bonmaljeondohada
"결과부터 걱정하는 것은 본말전도하는 것이다."
本末転倒する
Transliteration: honsumatsu tentou suru
"形にとらわれて目的を忘れるのは本末転倒だ。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all Portuguese termsA barracks or building intended for the accommodation of soldiers, usually located within a fortified place.
A secondary residence owned or rented by a family or individual, used primarily for recreational purposes, holidays, or seasonal getaways.
Not producing or containing venom; incapable of injecting poison through a bite, sting, or other mechanism.
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