Question

Difficulty: MediumIdioms and Idiomatic Expressions

During the parliamentary committee hearing on regional infrastructure, the chairperson warned the ministry delegates against putting the cart before the horse by releasing funds for construction prior to completing the feasibility study. What does the expression *putting the cart before the horse* mean in this context?

  1. Reversing the logical sequence of actions by addressing outcomes before preliminary requirementsAnswer
  2. B
    Employing outdated or inefficient machinery during project execution
  3. C
    Deliberately withholding financial allocations to stall administrative progress
  4. D
    Prioritizing tasks strictly according to urgency and importance

Answer

Reversing the logical sequence of actions by addressing outcomes before preliminary requirements
The idiomatic expression 'putting the cart before the horse' means to do things in the wrong order or to reverse the logical sequence of events. In the context of the sentence, disbursing funds before completing the feasibility study is an example of acting out of proper sequence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence
The chairperson is warning against disbursing project money before conducting the prerequisite feasibility study.
Contextual clues indicate an improper order of events where later steps are taken before earlier ones.
2
Interpret the figurative meaning of the idiomatic expression 'putting the cart before the horse'
A horse normally pulls a cart; placing the cart in front reverses the proper functional order.
The idiom metaphorically means doing things in the wrong or reverse order.

Key Concept

Interpretation of English Idioms in Context
Rate this question