If you sort out a group of things, you separate them into different classes, groups, or places, for example so that you can do different things with them.
Sort out all your bills, receipts, invoices and expenses and keep detailed accounts. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
Davina was sorting out scraps of material. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
How do we sort out fact from fiction? [VP n + from]
[Also VERB noun PARTICLE]
2. phrasal verb
If you sort out a problem or the details of something, you do what is necessary to solve the problem or organize the details.
The two countries have sorted out their trade and security dispute. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
Have you sorted something out for tomorrow night? [VERB noun PARTICLE]
3. phrasal verb
If you sort someone out, you make them realize that they have behaved wrongly, for example by talking to them or by punishing them.
[mainly British]
It was the older women and young mothers who sorted all the troublemakers out. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
The crucial skill you need to develop is sorting out the parents. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
4. phrasal verb
If you sortyourselfout, you organize yourself or calm yourself so that you can act effectively and reasonably.
We're in a state of complete chaos here and I need a little time to sort myself out. [VERB pronoun-reflexive PARTICLE]
More Synonyms of sort out
See full dictionary entry for sort
sort out in British English
verb(tr, adverb)
1.
to find a solution to (a problem, etc), esp to make clear or tidy
it took a long time to sort out the mess
2.
to take or separate, as from a larger group
he sorted out the most likely ones
3.
to organize into an orderly and disciplined group
4. informal
to beat or punish
nounsort-out
5. informal
the process of separating things that are wanted from things that are not
the kitchen needed a major sort-out
I've been having a sort-out today and I have filled a bag full of rubbish.
sort-out in British English
(ˈsɔːtaʊt)
noun
informal
the process of separating things you want from things you don't want or need
The kitchen needed a major sort-out.
I've been having a sort-out today and I have filled a bag full of rubbish.
Examples of 'sort out' in a sentence
sort out
He found the unfortunate Frampton in the lobby trying to sort out disputed items on his bill.
Forbes, Bryan A SONG AT TWILIGHT
I've been asked a couple of times to sort out problems he's had.
Wood, Ted SNOWJOB
He could probably sort out most of the Lesser Dead with Charter Magic alone.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
Rose, on her hands and knees on the upstairs landing as she did an emergency sort-out of the airing cupboard, rolled her eyes.
Cathy Kelly JUST BETWEEN US (2002)
With James, Bas, and Chambers ' all vying for number one on my sort-out list, I couldn't seem to get any further.
Anita Anderson SOMEBODY (2002)
In other languages
sort out
British English: sort out /sɔːt aʊt/ VERB
If you sort out a group of things, you organize or tidy them.
We try to sort out the truth from the lies.
American English: sort out
Arabic: يُفَرِّزُ
Brazilian Portuguese: separar
Chinese: 理清
Croatian: odijeliti
Czech: vytřídit
Danish: ordne
Dutch: ontwarren
European Spanish: ordenar organizar
Finnish: erotella
French: ranger
German: klären
Greek: διαχωρίζω
Italian: classificare
Japanese: 解決する
Korean: 해결하다
Norwegian: sortere
Polish: posortować
European Portuguese: separar
Romanian: a sorta
Russian: разбирать
Latin American Spanish: ordenar clasificar
Swedish: klara upp
Thai: จัดเรียง
Turkish: halletmek
Ukrainian: відбирати
Vietnamese: giải quyết
Chinese translation of 'sort out'
sort out
vt
(= separate) 区(區)别(別) (qūbié)
⇒ the difficulty of trying to sort out fact from fiction区别事实与虚构的困难 (qūbié shìshí yǔ xūgòu de kùnnan)