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Difference between Sort oneself out and Sort someone out

sort oneself out

1. get oneself into a proper mental or emotional state:

  • They are now separated by her decision: he has to sort himself out, show himself to be responsible, a potential father.

2. (of two or more people) settle disagreements:

  • Unless he and Michael can sort themselves out they will bring themselves into further disrepute.

sort someone out

1. (coll.) deal with a person who causes trouble:

  • He’s one of these idiots who fires his rifle off. It’s about time the police sorted him out.

2. (of two or more people) arrange in groups:

  • We sorted the people out, interrogated them, tried to find out what they were working on.