As a language expert with a deep understanding of idioms and their origins, I can provide you with a clear explanation of the idiom "don't put the cart before the horse."
The idiom "don't put the cart before the horse" means that one should not reverse the natural or logical order of things. It suggests that you should do things in the proper sequence or follow the correct procedure. The expression comes from the practicality of horse-drawn carriages, where the horse is placed before the cart to pull it. If you were to put the cart before the horse, it would be both illogical and impractical, as the horse wouldn't be able to pull the cart.
Here is the explanation with the key phrase in red:
"The idiom
don't put the cart before the horse means that one should not reverse the natural or logical order of things."
read more >>