Putting the cart before the horse

"Putting the cart before the horse" means doing things in the wrong order or reversing the natural sequence of events.
Meaning
The idiom suggests that someone is acting contrary to the logical or effective order of things. Literally, a cart is meant to be pulled by a horse, so placing the cart in front of the horse is nonsensical. Figuratively, it warns against confusing cause and effect, misplacing priorities, or performing tasks in the wrong sequence. For example, deciding what to wear for a wedding before being invited would be putting the cart before the horse.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment
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Origin
The phrase dates back to the early 16th century in English, with one of the earliest recorded uses appearing in John Heywood’s 1589 collection of proverbs: "Or set the cart before the hors". The idiom is rooted in agricultural life, where the proper order of horse and cart was common knowledge. It has also appeared in literature, including a variant in Shakespeare’s King Lear: "May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?". The expression is an example of a hysteron proteron, a figure of speech where the natural order is reversed, similar to saying

"putting on shoes before socks".

Phrasefinder
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Usage
The idiom is widely used in everyday language, business, and literature to highlight actions taken prematurely or in the wrong sequence. Examples include:
Starting a fundraiser before determining the actual need for funds.
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Creating schools before improving school management.
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Planning a project’s final steps before completing the foundational work.
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It serves as a cautionary reminder to consider the proper sequence of actions to achieve effective results.


2 Sources
Summary
In essence, putting the cart before the horse is a vivid metaphor for reversing priorities or performing tasks out of order. Its long history and continued use in English make it a versatile idiom for emphasizing logical sequencing and practical planning.
Wikipedia
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