本ほん末まつ転てん倒とう

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

putting the cart before the horse; mistaking the means for the end; getting priorities backwards

A yojijukugo describing a situation where the original purpose is lost and secondary matters take precedence, or where the means and the end are reversed.

• 会かい議ぎの準じゅん備びに時じ間かんをかけすぎて、会かい議ぎの目もく的てきを忘わすれてしまうのは本ほん末まつ転てん倒とうだ。

  Spending too much time preparing for the meeting and forgetting its purpose is putting the cart before the horse.

• 健けん康こうのために始はじめた運うん動どうで怪け我がをしては本ほん末まつ転てん倒とうです。

  Getting injured from exercise you started for your health would be mistaking the means for the end.