泥棒を捕らえて縄を綯う

泥棒を捕らえて縄を綯う【どろぼうをとらえてなわをなう】

Alsoをらえてをなう【どろぼうをとらえてなわをなう】どろぼうをとらえてなわをなう

expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.)

starting something in the eleventh hour; have not thy cloak to make when it begins to rain; don't lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen; braiding the rope only after the thief is caughtproverbsee also 泥縄【どろなわ】 and 泥縄式【どろなわしき】

This phrase suggests that it's unwise to wait until the last minute to prepare or take action, particularly after a critical incident has already occurred.

It is like starting to plan after a problem has arisen, just like braiding the rope only after the thief is caught.

国語辞典Japanese definitions

じたい事態がおこって起こってから、あわてて慌ててたいしょ対処すること。

きごう◯ごごいち午後一じはん時半をすぎる過ぎるとてきしゅう敵襲はしたびになった下火になった。きのう昨日てき敵はさんじ三時まで迄やすんだ休んだようである。さんじ三時をすぎた過ぎたがてきせい敵勢しんこう進攻のもよう模様みえ見えず、ごご午後よじ四時すこしまえに前にけいほう警報がとける解ける。きょう今日はまえぶれ前触れだけでしゅうりょう終了したわけだ。きごう◯てき敵のきどうぶたい機動部隊はにげた逃げたらしいが、せんか戦果はどうなのか。きごう◯えい英、いっしょうけんめい一生懸命ぼうくうずきん防空頭巾をぬう縫う。ぬすびと盗人をとらえて捕えてなわ縄をなうのたぐい類なり。

Wiktionary

泥棒を捕らえて縄を綯う【どろぼうをとらえてなわをなう】

Alsoをらえてをなう【どろぼうをとらえてなわをなう】どろぼうをとらえてなわをなう

expressions (phrases, clauses, etc.)

starting something in the eleventh hour; have not thy cloak to make when it begins to rain; don't lock the stable door after the horse has been stolen; braiding the rope only after the thief is caughtproverbsee also 泥縄【どろなわ】 and 泥縄式【どろなわしき】

This phrase suggests that it's unwise to wait until the last minute to prepare or take action, particularly after a critical incident has already occurred.