put the cart before the horse
начать не с того конца, поступать шиворот-навыворот, "поставить телегу впереди лошади"
They put the cart before the horse and took the effect for the cause.
Другие идиомы:
- put on a brave face
- put one's thinking cap on
- put one's best foot forward
- you can lead a horse to water (but you can't make it drink)
- get on one's high horse
- straight from the horse's mouth
- put all one's eggs in one basket
- on horseback
- horse around
- put flesh on (something)
- put words into (someone's) mouth
- put one's cards on the table
- put in one's two cents (worth)
- put one's hand to the plow
- put one's foot in one's mouth