put house in order
Related to put house in order: 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
Fig. to put one's business or personal affairs into good order. (As if one were cleaning one's house. See also put one's own house in order.) There was some trouble in the department office and the manager was told to put his house in order. Every now and then, I have to put my house in order. Then life becomes more manageable.
See also: house, order, put
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
put/set your (own) ˈhouse in order
organize your own business or improve your own behaviour before you try to criticize somebody else: A government official warned the newspaper industry to put its own house in order before it started to tell other industries how they should be run.See also: house, order, put, set
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- put
- put (one's) (own) house in order
- put one's 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