1. put the cart before the horse - Verb
2. put the cart before the horse - Phrase
put the cart before the horse (third-person singular simple present puts the cart before the horse, present participle putting the cart before the horse, simple past and past participle put the cart before the horse)
(idiomatic) To put things in the wrong order or with the wrong priorities; to put something inconsequential as more important than something more essential.