put one's house in order
put (one's) (own) house in order
To resolve one's own personal problems or business affairs (especially before criticizing those of others). The president and his administration sorely need to put their house in order or they may not live to see a second term in office. Jim should go about putting his own house in order before he starts criticizing how I live my life!
See also: house, order, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
put one's house in order
Arrange one's affairs, as in Stop meddling in your daughter's business and put your own house in order. This metaphoric term appears in slightly different form in the Bible (Isaiah 38:1): "Set thine house in order." [Late 1500s]
See also: house, order, put
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- put
- put (one's) (own) house in order
- put house in order
- put own house in order
- put your house in order
- put/set your house in order
- get (one's) (own) house in order
- set (one's) (own) house in order
- set house in order
- at will