Idioms

put your own house in order | get your own house in order

This page is about the idiom put your own house in order | get your own house in order

Meaning

If you say to someone "put your own house in order", or "get your own house in order", you think they should solve their own problems before telling someone else how to solve theirs.

For example

  • You should put your own house in order before telling other people what to do.

  • Ian has plenty of problems of his own, so he needs to get his own house in order before he starts telling other people how to live their lives.

Quick Quiz

Karen says I should put my own house in order before I

a. go on my vacation

b. give advice on decorating homes

c. tell other people what they should do
a) go on my vacation b) give advice on decorating homes c) tell other people what they should do

Learn idioms easily with
Common English Idioms PDF ebook!

Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey