set house in order

set (one's) (own) house in order

To resolve or put into order or resolve one's own personal problems or business affairs. The president and his administration sorely need to set their house in order, or they may not see a second term in office. Jim should go about setting his own house in order before he starts criticizing how I live my life!

See also: house, order, set

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

set one's house in order

Fig. to make certain that one's affairs are in proper legal order. Before we can ask for a bank loan, we have to set our house in order. I found an accountant who would help me set my house in order.

See also: house, order, set

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

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 © Farlex 2017