put (one's) (own) house in order
(redirected from put our own 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!
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.
put one's own house in order
to make one's own affairs right, before or instead of criticizing someone else. (See also put one's house in order.) You should put your own house in order before criticizing someone else. I have to put my own house in order before I criticize others.
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]
put your house in order
orget your house in order
COMMON If you put your house in order or get your house in order, you make sure that all your affairs are arranged properly and that all your problems are dealt with. The government has given the newspaper industry a twelve-month deadline to put its house in order or face tough new controls. As with individuals, no company can be successful until it has got its own internal house in order. Note: Verbs such as keep or set can be used instead of put or get. She claimed the high street banks were incapable of keeping their house in order.
put (or set or get) your house in order
make necessary reforms. 2002 New York Times There will be no moral credibility for the bishops to speak about justice, truth, racial equality, war or immigration if they can't get their own house in order.