The horse pulls the cart, not the cart the horse. The proverb means that we should not get things back to front, but should deal with them in their right order. To invite all your relatives and friends to your wedding before you have arranged things with the vicar is to put the cart before the horse.
Related Proverbs
The darkest hour is that before the dawn
Even when things seem at their very worst, they may shortly improve. Read more →
Rain before seven, fine before eleven
This piece of optimism is based on the weather in Britain, where early-morning rain sometimes gives... Read more →