From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsort something/somebody ↔ out phrasal verb1 ORGANIZEto arrange or organize something that is mixed up or untidy, so that it is ready to be used We need to sort out our camping gear before we go away.2 SOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEMto separate one type of thing from another I’ve sorted out the papers that can be thrown away. from First, sort the white things out from the other clothes.3 especially British EnglishSOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM to successfully deal with a problem or difficult situation She went to a psychiatrist to try to sort out her problems. I’ll be glad to get this misunderstanding sorted out.sort yourself out/get yourself sorted out (=deal with all your problems) I’m staying with a friend until I manage to sort myself out.4 especially British English to succeed in making arrangements for something Have you sorted out where you’re going to live yet? She is trying to sort out childcare.5 sort itself out British EnglishSOLVE/DEAL WITH A PROBLEM if something sorts itself out, it stops being a problem without you having to do anything Our financial problems should sort themselves out in a week or two.6 British English informalFORCE somebody TO DO something to stop someone from causing problems or annoying you, especially by attacking or punishing them If he bothers you again, I’ll sort him out. → sort→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
sort out• I must go and sort it out.• It was obvious we couldn't cope, but who on earth could we rely on to sort us out?• Instead, they would rely on decentralized, uncontrolled life to sort itself out and come to some self-enhancing harmony.• That he was sorting George out at last.• The Wissenschaftsrat has been trying to sort this one out, but the political factors seem to have prevented progress.• Refuse to sweep difficulties under the carpet but sort things out even when it is painful.• I can sort her out for myself.• She hadn't even begun to sort things out when Louise retired a month later.sort from• It has to sort these echoes out from each other.• He eventually suggested sending her to one of the wards and said that he would sort things out from there.get ... sorted out• I've still to get myself sorted out.• I could work here then go up to London during the day and try to get things sorted out.• I want you to instruct them that they've got three months instead of six to get the details sorted out.• I wanted him to be home with me, but I needed to get myself sorted out.• It didn't take long to get things sorted out.• The Miss Cardings next door, they would have let me stay there until I got myself sorted out.• They haven't even got my benefits sorted out.• I would read through a passage and get it sorted out as best I could.sort itself out• Childhood problems and anxieties have a habit of sorting themselves out.• Expect more bobbing and weaving while this one sorts itself out.• Life has a funny way of sorting itself out.• The seating problem more or less sorted itself out.• Instead, they would rely on decentralized, uncontrolled life to sort itself out and come to some self-enhancing harmony.• Inside the gulf of Pagasai, the disorganized Persian armament was sorting itself out and re-numbering.• At present, Ann led and Megan followed, but that would sort itself out in the long run.• This situation is not going to sort itself out. We have to do something.• The situation will sort itself out when the city reopens Navy Pier, the fair's preferred location.• They hope that it will sort itself out with time - it is even more difficult to ask a second time.sort-outˈsort-out noun [singular] British English informalTIDY an occasion when you tidy a room, desk etc and get rid of the things you do not need These cupboards need a good sort-out.Examples from the Corpus
sort-out• Start your kitchen reorganization with a drastic sort-out and throw-out. 