Meaning: a la carte

n.
a menu having individual dishes listed with separate prices
adj.
(of a restaurant meal) having unlimited choices with a separate price for each item
adv.
by ordering items listed individually on a menu

upset the somebody's apple cart Idiom, Proverb

cart before the horse

(See the cart before the horse)

put the cart before the horse

do things in the wrong order I think that he is putting the cart before the horse by talking about fixing up the house before he even buys it.

the cart before the horse

backwards, back to front Having dessert before dinner is putting the cart before the horse.

upset the apple cart

cause a major problem, stop progress You will upset the apple cart if you tell your folks we're moving.

upset the applecart

ruin a plan or event by surprise or accident Everything was going well at the company until he came along and upset the apple cart.

give sb carte blanche

Idiom(s): give someone carte blanche AND give carte blanche to someone

Theme: FREEDOM

to give someone freedom or permission to act as one wishes or thinks necessary.
• He's been given carte blanche with the reorganization of the workforce.
• The manager has been given no instructions about how to train the staff. The owner just gave him carte blanche.
• Jane gave carte blanche to the decorator and said she wanted the whole house done.

give carte blanche to

Don't upset the applecart

If you are advised not to upset the applecart, you are being told not to disturb the way things are done because it might ruin things.

Hell in a handcart

If something is going to hell in a handcart, it is getting worse and worse, with no hope of stopping the decline.

Putting the cart before the horse

When you put the cart before the horse, you are doing something the wrong way round.

More Idioms/Phrases

Put your hand on your heart Put your heads together Put your thumb on the scales Put yourself in someone's shoes Putting the cart before the horse Pyrrhic victory Quarrel with bread and butter Quart into a pint pot Queen bee Queen of Hearts Queer fish Queer Street Queer your pitch