Phrase guide

put one's house in order

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To clean and arrange in an orderly manner the furnishings and other contents of one's house.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: literal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: clean house

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To organize one's financial and other affairs, especially in preparation for a life-changing event.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: put one's affairs in order

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: siivota — to clean and arrange in an orderly manner the furnishings and other contents of one's house
  • French: ranger — to clean and arrange in an orderly manner the furnishings and other contents of one's house
  • French: mettre de l'ordre — to clean and arrange in an orderly manner the furnishings and other contents of one's house
  • French: faire le ménage — to clean and arrange in an orderly manner the furnishings and other contents of one's house
  • Polish: robić porządki — to clean and arrange in an orderly manner the furnishings and other contents of one's house
  • Polish: zrobić porządki — to clean and arrange in an orderly manner the furnishings and other contents of one's house
  • Finnish: saada asiansa järjestykseen — to organize one's financial and other affairs, especially in preparation for a life-changing event
  • Polish: doprowadzać sprawy do ładu — to organize one's financial and other affairs, especially in preparation for a life-changing event
  • Polish: doprowadzić sprawy do ładu — to organize one's financial and other affairs, especially in preparation for a life-changing event