separate (redirected from Separatory)

separate the sheep from the goats (British, American & Australian, British & Australian)

to choose the people or things of high quality from a group of mixed quality. I'll look through the application forms and separate the sheep from the goats.

See also: from, goat, sheep

separate the wheat from the chaff

to choose the things or people that are of high quality from a group of mixed quality. A preliminary look through the applications will help you to separate the wheat from the chaff.

See also: from

separate/sort out the men from the boys

if a difficult situation or activity separates the men from the boys, it shows which people in a group are brave and strong and which are not. You have to survive outdoors for three days and three nights. That should separate the men from the boys.

See also: boy, from, men, sort

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go your separate ways

to end your relationship. We were good friends in college, but after graduation we went our separate ways. The two firms went their separate ways about 18 months ago.

See also: ways

separate the men from the boys

to show which people in a group can do something difficult and which people cannot. The five-day camping trip next month should separate the men from the boys!

See also: boy, from, men

separate the wheat from the chaff

to choose what is of high quality over what is of lower quality. As we learn more about computer programs for the classroom, we are able to separate the wheat from the chaff and get the right software for our kids.

See also: from