sort out: Idiom Meaning and Origin

What does ‘sort out’ mean?

The idiom sort out means to resolve or organize a problem or situation.

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Decoding "Sort Out"

Need clarification on the meaning and origin of an idiomatic expression.

The idiom "sort out" is a commonly used phrase in English, with various meanings depending on the context. One prevalent meaning of "sort out" is to organize or arrange something methodically. This can apply to physical objects, like sorting out a collection of books or files. It can also refer to resolving conflicts or issues. For example, if two people have a conflict, they might need to "sort it out" by discussing the matter and finding a resolution. In a similar vein, the idiom "straighten out" is closely related to "sort out" and is used to describe resolving problems or conflicts in an organized and systematic manner.

Example usage

Examples of how the idiom sort out can be used in a sentence:

  1. He needs to sort out his financial problems before he can start a new business.
  2. Let's meet tomorrow and sort out the details of our travel plans.
  3. The coach tried to sort out the issues within the team to improve their performance.

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