put cart before the horse
get cart before the horse
have cart before the horse
Things in wrong order; something backwards or mixed up. An overused expression. Usually used with put but sometimes with get or have.
When the salesman wanted money for goods he hadn't delivered, I told him he was putting the cart before the horse.
To get married first and then get a job is getting the cart before the horse.
put down
To stop by force, crush.
In 24 hours the general had entirely put down the rebellion.
To put a stop to; check.
She had patiently put down unkind talk by living a good life.
The police arrived just in time to put down the disturbance before it got very serious.
To write a record of; write down.
He put down the story while it was fresh in his mind.
To write a name in a list as agreeing to do something.
The banker put himself down for $1000.
Sheila put Barbara down for the decorations.
To decide the kind or class of; characterize; to criticize unfairly.
He put the man down as a bum.
He put it down as a piece of bad luck.
Fred tries his best at playing tennis. You shouldn’t put him down like that.
To name as a cause; attribute.
He put the odd weather down to nuclear explosions.
To dig; drill; sink.
He put down a new well.
put forth
To produce; issue; send out.
In the spring the apple trees put forth beautiful white blossoms.
The chairman of the board put forth an innovative proposal that was circulated by mail.
put ideas into one's head
To persuade someone to do something negative; put one up to something.
Billy would never have poured glue into his father's shoes if the neighbor's son hadn't been putting ideas into his head.
put in a word for
To speak in favor of someone; recommend someone.
"Don't worry about your job application," Sam said to Tim. "I'll put in a word for you with the selection committee."
put in an appearance
make an appearance
To be present, esp. for a short time; visit; appear.
He put in an appearance at work, but he was too ill to stay.
The president put in an appearance at several dances the evening after he was sworn in.
put in mind of
To remind of; suggest to; call up the memory of.
She puts me in mind of my sister.
That puts me in mind of a story.
put in one's place
To criticize someone for impolite boldness; remind someone of low rank or position; reduce someone's unsuitable pride; deflate.
The assistant was trying to take command when the professor put him in his place by saying, "No, I'm the boss here."
She was a teacher who could put a troublemaker in his place with just a glance.