Choose the correct meaning of the idioms mentioned in bold:
He is putting the cart before the horse by purchasing furniture before buying a house
(1) Doing things in the wrong order
(2) Doing the work of a carpenter
(3) Committing a great crime
(4) Doing work meticulously and correctly
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → 1
The correct meaning of the idiom "putting the cart before the horse" is doing things in the wrong order. This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone does something that is not logical or efficient. In the case of the sentence, the man is purchasing furniture before he has even bought a house. This is not logical because he will not have anywhere to put the furniture if he does not have a house.
The other options are incorrect. The idiom "doing the work of a carpenter" does not mean doing things in the wrong order. The idiom "committing a great crime" does not mean doing things in the wrong order. The idiom "doing work meticulously and correctly" does not mean doing things in the wrong order.