1 B1 idiomatic informal
To organise your personal life, resolve your problems, or improve your circumstances.
"After losing his job, he took three months off to sort himself out before looking for work again."
separable
sort oneself out
B1 informal separable transitive
To organise your own affairs, solve your personal problems, or improve your life situation.
In plain English
To fix your own problems and get your life in order.
What does "sort oneself out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To recover emotionally or psychologically from a difficult period.
"She needed some time alone to sort herself out after the breakup."
separable
Usage tip
A reflexive use of 'sort out'. Very common in British English. Often used in advice or frustration ('You need to sort yourself out') or in statements about personal improvement ('I'm trying to sort myself out').
Words that pair with "sort oneself out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
life finances problems head career emotions
How to conjugate "sort oneself out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
sort oneself out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sorts oneself out
he/she/it
Past simple
sorted oneself out
yesterday
Past participle
sorted oneself out
have + pp
-ing form
sorting oneself out
continuous
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Other ways to say "sort oneself out"
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get one's act together get one's life together get organised pull oneself together sort out one's affairs
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