"sort out" 意为“理清、整理、梳理”;"priorities" 是“优先事项、轻重缓急”(priority 的复数)。因此整个短语的意思是:
强调“从杂乱的任务/事务中梳理出先后顺序”的过程,帮助人们聚焦最重要的事情,避免混乱。
作为动词短语,通常用于需要规划、决策或时间管理的场景(职场、生活、学习等),主语多为“人”(或团队、组织),宾语为“优先事项”(one's priorities / the priorities of sth)。
主语 + sort out + (one's / the) priorities
(某人/团队理清自己的/某事的优先事项)
职场/项目管理(最常用):
With multiple tasks due this week, I need to sort out my priorities to meet deadlines.
(这周有多项任务要完成,我得理清优先事项才能赶上截止日期。)
The team held a workshop to sort out the priorities for the new product launch.
(团队开了个研讨会,理清新产品上线的优先事项。)
生活/个人规划:
After the baby was born, she had to sort out her priorities—work, family, and self-care.
(宝宝出生后,她必须理清优先事项——工作、家庭和自我照顾。)
I’m feeling overwhelmed; I should take a day to sort out my priorities.
(我觉得压力太大了,应该花一天时间理清轻重缓急。)
危机/调整期:
After the company’s restructuring, employees had to sort out their priorities to adapt to new roles.
(公司重组后,员工必须理清优先事项以适应新角色。)
sort out one's priorities:理清“某人自己的”优先事项(最常见);
sort out the priorities of sth:理清“某件事/项目的”优先顺序;
help sb sort out priorities:帮助某人理清优先事项(如上级帮下属、朋友间互助)。
prioritize(动词):直接表示“给…排序;优先处理”(更强调“动作结果”);
例:First, sort out your priorities, then prioritize your tasks.(先理清优先事项,再给任务排序。)
get one's priorities straight:口语中更直白的表达,意为“摆正轻重缓急”(隐含“之前顺序混乱”的意思);
例:You need to get your priorities straight—family comes before work.(你得摆正轻重缓急——家庭比工作重要。)
"sort out priorities" 是实用的时间管理/决策短语,核心是“从混乱中梳理顺序”,适用于所有需要“区分重要性”的场景。记住它的关键:先“理清”(sort out),再“行动”(prioritize)。