cart

put the cart before the horse

to do things in the wrong order. Deciding what to wear before you've even been invited to the party is rather putting the cart before the horse, isn't it?

See also: before, horse

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cart someone/something away

to take someone or something somewhere. We cleaned out the garage and carted tons of stuff away. Investigators were carting away boxes of material from her office.

See also: away

(put) the cart before the horse

to do something that should happen later before other things. Barnhart is putting the cart before the horse by building a stadium before a team has agreed to play there.

See also: before, horse

cart someone off

to take someone or something somewhere. Rioters smashed windows and carted off televisions, shoes, car tires, and anything else they could carry. He was carted off to jail.