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.

Shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted.

Synonyms and related words. Trying to prevent or rectify a problem after the damage has already been done. Proverb this saying dates back to medieval times. See full dictionary entry for stable.

Close the barn door after the horse has bolted is alternative often used in american english. Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Phrase verb inflects if you say that someone has closed or shut the stable door after the horse has bolted you mean that they have tried to prevent something happening but they have done so too late to prevent damage being done. If people try to fix something after the problem has occurred they are trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted.

After bolt closing door horse stable. Shut or lock the stable door after the horse has bolted try to avoid or prevent something bad or unwelcome when it is already too late to do so.