文学城论坛
+A-

APAD: Cart before the horse

最西边的岛上 2026-01-29 08:17:39 ( reads)

"Cart before the horse" is an idiom used to suggest something is done contrary to the natural or normally effective sequence of events.  A cart is a vehicle that is ordinarily pulled by a horse, so to put the cart before the horse is an analogy for doing things in the wrong order. The figure of speech means doing things the wrong way round or with the wrong emphasis or confusing cause and effect.

The earliest recorded use of the proverb was in the early 16th century.  A variant of the proverb is used by Shakespeare in King Lear Act I, scene iv, line 230: "May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?"

- From Wiki, with minor editing
----------------------------------------

Bet you all have had such experience in work or/and life before, either watched others doing it or done it by self, felt Frustrated or/and lost. To be honest, I have

But I also had positive experience: a couple times in Ottawa winter: my car was stuck in icy snow with tires spinning but wouldn't move.  A few neighbours/co-workers came to my aid and pushed my car out.  They are all caring nice people, and I appreciated their kind help with the feeling of "car before the manpower"!!! 鬼脸

Most of us on the west coast escaped the snow this year (so far).  Wish those in the East are warm and safe on those white slippery roads. 加油

 

 

跟帖(15)

硅谷居士

2026-01-29 08:56:36

Thanks for sharing!

最西边的岛上

2026-01-29 13:26:57

Thank U 4 coming! :-)

硅谷居士

2026-01-29 08:58:28

Put first things first. Get your priorities straight.

硅谷居士

2026-01-29 08:59:05

Focus on what matters most.

最西边的岛上

2026-01-29 09:20:43

4 sure. Same wrt people, 2 me, characters r more important

最西边的岛上

2026-01-29 09:22:28

than capabilities!

硅谷居士

2026-01-29 09:00:14

Set your priorities right.

最西边的岛上

2026-01-29 09:23:34

+100!

7grizzly

2026-01-29 09:12:45

Can't put Descartes before the horse either.

最西边的岛上

2026-01-29 09:28:15

噗呲!The 1 said “Je pense, donc je suis” + x/y/z Cartesian?

最西边的岛上

2026-01-29 09:29:09

Doubt he could b pushed by any horse ~~~

移花接木

2026-01-29 10:43:46

need another horse before the cart, so the rear horse follow

最西边的岛上

2026-01-29 10:53:26

Like an alpha wolf? Good idea! :-) Just checked, and yes,

最西边的岛上

2026-01-29 10:56:28

"horses r herd animals that have an innate need to establish

最西边的岛上

2026-01-29 10:57:50

a pecking order within the pack". Learned & interesting.Thx!