WordUpWordup

Sort out/separate the sheep from the goats

usgbVolume
Left Definition 1 of 1Right
LampPro Tip 1/3
Biblical OriginPlay
The phrase has a biblical origin, referring to judgement, where 'sheep' represent the righteous and 'goats' the less desirable. SlideAt the charity audition, they needed to sort out the sheep from the goats to find committed volunteers.
LampPro Tip 2/3
Metaphoric MeaningPlay
Used metaphorically, it doesn't involve real sheep or goats. It's about judging the quality or suitability of people or things. SlideThe quiz competition will sort out the sheep from the goats among the students.
LampPro Tip 3/3
Common ConfusionsPlay
Avoid confusing this phrase with literal animal sorting. In speech, emphasis on 'sort out' clarifies you mean figuratively. SlideIt can be a challenge to sort out the sheep from the goats when looking at online reviews.