Definition
To attempt to prevent a problem that has already occurred; to design and implement a preventive mechanism that is too late (after the first failure instead of before).
In Context
- "We are now in an election period, with WhatsApp and closed Facebook groups being used, as we speak, in electoral campaigning, but the law has not changed since the DCMS Committee, on which I serve, raised these issues. We have yet another instance of shutting the door after the horse has bolted."
Also Said As
- close the barn door after the horse has bolted
- close the stable door after the horse has been stolen
- lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen
- lock the stable door after the horse has bolted
- shut the stable door after the horse has bolted
See Also
- barn door
- horsebarn
- late in the day
- put the genie back in the bottle
- Scarborough warning
- that ship has sailed
- too little, too late
- unring a bell