[put] the cart before the horse

to not do things in order

The idiom "put the cart before the horse" warns against doing things in the wrong order, emphasizing the importance of proper sequencing and planning. It originates from the literal scenario of attaching a cart (which follows) in front of a horse (which leads). This idiom is used to caution against hasty or illogical actions where the logical order is reversed, leading to inefficiency or confusion.

Aren't you putting the cart before the horse by deciding what to wear for the wedding before you've even been invited to it?
You can't start building a house without architectural plans; that's like putting the cart before the horse.
She realized she had put the cart before the horse when she bought a new computer but didn't have the necessary software to use it.
You need to prepare a project proposal before requesting funding; don't put the cart before the horse.
Launching a marketing campaign without understanding your target audience is like putting the cart before the horse.