As soon as I embarked the A to Z Challenge, I knew that I would write about French idioms and their equivalents in American English. I also knew that I would have some trouble with a few letters. With a little bit of help (merci to my husband and to my Wonderful virtual French friend Lectrice en Campagne), I managed to find an expression for every letter of the alphabet.
Including W, even though W is not the first letter of the idiom-du-jour.
Mettre les Wagons Avant la Locomotive
Put the Wagons Before the Locomotive
Embed from Getty Images
I didn’t find a matching idiom in English. But I personally favor another idiom, which was widely used in my native Normandy and has in addition a perfectly good match in English. It is not surprising to me that the French ‘Boeufs’ became a ‘Horse’ in the US.
Mettre la Charrue Avant les Boeufs
To Put the Cart Before the Oxen
To Put the Cart Before the Horse
Embed from Getty Images
Whatever idiom you prefer, both have the exact same meaning: Doing things the wrong way, confusing cause and effect.
It is also common to use these idioms in the negative form as a warning, such as: “Il ne faut pas mettre les wagons avant la locomotive,” Or: “Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les boeufs.”
Your pick!
See you tomorrow!
Evelyne Holingue 
Je connais surtout mettre la charrue avant les boeufs. Après tout parfois on trouve des wagons devant une locomotive, en tout cas il me semble d’en avoir vu en Allemagne.
Je préfère aussi la charrue aux wagons. Mais c’est à prendre au second degré. Merci en tous cas, Solveig, pour tes visites pendant ce voyage au pays des expressions franco-anglaises et américaines.
Oh c’est un plaisir. J’ai dû beaucoup sourire.
Tout à fait délicieux! J’aime aussi “it’s the tail that wags the dog” que je ne sais jamais traduire! 🙂
Vous ajoutez au challenge je vois! 😊
Je vais vérifier celle ci! À plus tard sur votre blog.
We would also say to put the cart before the horse in the UK.
Good to know for my next trip there! 😊 thank you, Anabel.
It’s funny to see the wagons associated with a locomotive, but I’ve been reading a history of railroad accidents in the UK from the start of the railroads and that word is used a lot. Today, we talk of “cars” on a train rather than wagons (in the US). Cart before the horse or some of those expressions we agreed not to mention all come to mind here. I guess doing things in the wrong order is a universal trait throughout time.
You’re into countdown mode, 3, 2, 1 done pretty soon. This has been fun to follow.
You are right about the carts, Dan. I did a literal translation. I knew that someone who loves and knows trains would add an interesting comment. 😊
Glad you are having a good time with this series. The very last leg is approaching soon…
So the Normandy expression clearly pre-dates the ‘standard French one. : ) I have a French colleague who teaches me all kinds of great French expressions. I’ve taken her lead, and now when some idea is completely useless, I say we’re off to ‘peigner la girafe’, and when either of us is confused in a meeting, we whisper ‘Quel vélo?’ Now you’re providing me with a whole new arsenal… : )
Glad I do, Kimberly! 😊
Cart before the horse has got to be one the the most common expressions, even today. Unlike many others, it is used by young and old alike, even by kids who have probably never seen a cart and horse outside a movie or television.
It’s one of those timeless expressions, you are right, Marilyn. Thank you again for keeping up with this series. 😊
I love this idiom, though it’s clear France has a more updated version! Pretty soon, though, they’re going to have to update the idiom again, when the younger generations won’t know what a cart or locomotive is. 😉 (My students already stare at toys of trains and go “That’s not what a train looks like…” haha!)
I agree, although it seems like even the one with the oxen is still used. Thank you, Alex, for your visit. I love what you are doing for this challenge on your blog.
Not at all! I’m sorry I haven’t visited more!
This is an interesting expression in both English and French.
Both are as explicit, I agree. See you for the last leg of the trip,Claire.
Having used it many times, I’ll stick with the cart before the horse. 🙂 –Curt
I also favor the Charriot Before the Oxen! Thanks, Curt.
A horse is a lot smaller than a locomotive! Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com
That’s for sure. I like the horse/oxen/cart/charriot better than the locomotive and the wagons. But letter W was a challenge! See you, Lisa.
Yep we go for putting the cart before the horse, but you found your ‘w’!
I did! I hope to see you for the last two letters, Andrea.