Phrasal verb
sort sb/sth/yourself out
Definition
phrasal verb. to deal with a problem or organize something that is messy or confusing. You can also use it to describe getting your own life or behavior back in order.
phrasal verb. to resolve a problem, organize a chaotic situation, or attend to necessary details. When used reflexively, it refers to improving one's personal circumstances or mental state.
Examples
“I need to sort out my desk before I start working.”
“We had some issues with the booking, but the manager managed to sort everything out for us.”
“The legal team spent several weeks trying to sort out the complex inheritance claims before the case reached the high court.”
Examples
simple
“I need to sort out my desk before I start working.”
contextual
“We had some issues with the booking, but the manager managed to sort everything out for us.”
complex
“The legal team spent several weeks trying to sort out the complex inheritance claims before the case reached the high court.”
Usage
very common in British English for both physical organization and problem-solving.
Teaching tip
highlight the versatility of the phrase; it covers everything from tidying a room to resolving a deep personal crisis or a technical glitch.
Pitfall
I need to sort out it.
I need to sort it out.
when the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
optional
Pattern
sort (+ object) + out