Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - sort out

1. 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 as quickly as possible and keep detailed accounts... Davina was sorting out scraps of material... How do we sort out fact from fiction? PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V P n (not pron), V P n (not pron) from n 2. If you sort out a problem or the details of something, you do what is necessary to solve the problem or organize the details. India and Nepal have sorted out their trade and security dispute... Have you sorted something out for tomorrow night? PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V n P 3. 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 BRIT) It was the older women and young mothers who sorted all the troublemakers out... The crucial skill you need to develop is sorting out the parents. PHRASAL VERB: V n P, V P n (not pron) 4. If you sort yourself out, 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. PHRASAL VERB: V pron-refl P