shut the stable door

shut the stable door

See lock the barn door.
See also: door, shut, stable
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • ASAP
  • live and well
  • maid of all work
  • take under one's wing
  • haven't
  • sublime to the ridiculous
  • don't know from Adam
  • coals of fire
  • beat one's head against the wall, to
  • no smoke, no fire
References in periodicals archive
"They've tried to shut the stable door but it's come too late," political analyst Dixon Sing told AFP, adding only an independent inquiry would start to mollify the "extremely high level of anger and injustice" among protesters and the wider public.
Hong Kong Extradition Bill To Be Withdrawn: Lam
"It's a great thing, but it is a little bit like trying to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted," he says.
Childhood gambling a dangerous game; A former addict is shining a light on the problem of youngsters betting
Better late than never THE Gambling Commission has eventually decided to try to shut the stable door, whereas if action had been taken when the issues first surfaced its job would have been much easier.
Better late than never; LETTERS
IT'S a bit like trying to "put the cat back into the bag" except in this case it's more likely someone is attempting to "shut the stable door after the horse has bolted".
Turning a blind eye to dodgy 'meat products'
Then of course, organisers tried to shut the stable door to speak, after the horse had bolted.
Delhi AutoExpo 2012: The Great Auto Mess! - Part 2
Rex Phillips, NASUWT Wales organiser, described the release of the full data used to calculate bands as an attempt to shut the stable door after the horse had bolted.
WORST SCHOOLS MUST DO BETTER; Pupils not performing as expected
It''s too late to shut the stable door. The horse is half way to Lancashire.
Windfarm protest was years overdue; LETTERS
However Mrs McKinnell, Labour MP, said: "This Tory-led Government cannot be allowed to take shortcuts with the NHS, the Labour Government took public health campaigns seriously but Andrew Lansley is highlighting here how he is only able to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted.
MP blames shortcuts for flu outbreak; McKinnell hits out Government
Now that the horse of criminality has bolted and is galloping all over the population, the government is likely to shut the stable door, in the shape of a semi-police state on all and sundry in a bid to restore some recognisable social order.
Letter: You Say - Semi-police state
Suddenly, with the horse bolted, Ireland shut the stable door. Kilbane moved into central midfield to offer a helping hand and while defensively Ireland improved, their attacking play remained abysmal.
Football: Czechmate for Stan as Hunt ends early again; EURO 2008 QUALIFIERS - GROUP D CZECH REPUBLIC 1 IRELAND 0 QUALIFYING DREAMS ALL BUT DEAD FOR IRISH
Talk about trying to shut the stable door after the horse has bolted.
travel: DETOX YOUR SOCKS OFF; Avril Cadden gets it out of her system at a luxury spa complex on stunning Malta
WHATEVER length of ban the Scottish Football Association impose on Neil Lennon will be no more than slamming shut the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Leggoland: Bad Bhoys must be dealt with this time
It is time for the council to back the right horse before the city - once again - is left to shut the stable door after it has bolted
Birmingham Post Comment: Brum needs to jump before wheel stops
Then what, shut the stable door when the horse has bolted?
LETTERS: your views
"Anderson is fine at the moment, but you don't want the horse to have bolted and then try to shut the stable door. All the time when I'm giving guys rest, what I'm trying to do is make sure they're not over-cooked - it's much better for them to be under-cooked."
Busy England looking to rotate seamers