
Sort out/separate the sheep from the goats
Biblical Origin
The phrase has a biblical origin, referring to judgement, where 'sheep' represent the righteous and 'goats' the less desirable. 
Metaphoric Meaning
Used metaphorically, it doesn't involve real sheep or goats. It's about judging the quality or suitability of people or things. 
Common Confusions
Avoid confusing this phrase with literal animal sorting. In speech, emphasis on 'sort out' clarifies you mean figuratively. 