Shutting The Barn Door After The Horse Has Bolted

Proverb this saying dates back to medieval times.

Shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted.

Until the late 19th century it was used in the form shut the stable door after the steed is stolen. Meaning of shut close the stable barn door after the horse has bolted in english shut close the stable barn door after the horse has bolted to be so late in taking action to prevent something bad happening that the bad event has already happened thesaurus. Trying to prevent or rectify a problem after the damage has already been done. See full dictionary entry for stable.

Synonyms and related words. If people try to fix something after the problem has occurred they are trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted. Close the barn door after the horse has bolted is alternative often used in american english. If you try to replace the oil filter on the engine now you re just closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

After bolt closing door horse stable. To close the stable door after the horse has bolted.