Put the cart before the horse的中文意思：本末倒置，例如：Buying a car before you get your driver's license is like putting the cart before the horse.先買車才考駕照根本就是本末倒置。
這個用語在英文出現的時間應是1520年，但也有資料顯示是更早的14世紀。其背後的含義很簡單：馬匹應該要在推車前方拉推車，而非在推車後面推。所以如果把推車擺在馬匹前方，就是用不對且愚蠢的方式在做事。
我們來看下老外聊天時怎麼用這個習語：
Jack：There's a good deal on furniture；let's get some.
有很便宜的家具，我們去採購吧。
Jill：But we haven't found an apartment to buy yet.
可是我們還沒找到要買的公寓。
Jack：Iknow，but we shouldn't miss out on this sale.
我知道，但我們不應該錯過這次特賣。
Jill：No.You're putting the cart before the horse.Let's wait till we find an apartment.
不行。你本末倒置了。等我們找到公寓再說。
例句精選
It's not bankruptcy which has caused him to drink. You've put the cart before the horse.
並不是破產使他酗酒的，你可把因果關係顛倒了。
Yet, this is to put the cart before the horse.
不過，這樣說是本末倒置。
Nope, no way! You should return me the money borrowed from me last time, or you'll put the cart before the horse.
不，不行！你應該把上次跟我借的錢還給我，否則你就本末倒置了。
You dont want to put the cart before the horse.
你不會想要本末倒置的。
你還可以這樣表達：
do things backwards 順序顛倒做事
put things in the wrong order 不按照順序做事
ass-backwards 顛倒