Are you admiring your clean room? You could say, “a place for everything and everything in its place.” This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The expression “a place for everything and everything in its place” means everything in your room, home, or office has a specific storage place. You should pack things away after using them in their particular spot to keep your area orderly and tidy. It refers to someone that values order and neatness in their life.
Example Usage
"I just finished cleaning my place, and it looks neat and tidy. A place for everything, and everything in its place."
"There's a deep feeling of satisfaction from cleaning your room. A place for everything and everything in its place. I am happy with the results."
"This home is amazing; everything is so neat and tidy. A place for everything and everything in its place. You can see the homeowner takes pride in how they keep their living space."
"I like to keep everything neat and tidy at home. A place for everything and everything in its place. I can't stand it when people leave things lying around."
"I wish my cousin would have better hygiene. He needs to understand that there's a place for everything and everything in its place."
"My grandma taught me to keep my room tidy. She would always say a place for everything and everything in its place.' I live by that rule today, and it serves me well."
"A place for everything and everything in its place. Don't leave your room in a mess. I want you to clean it before you go out with your friends later, or I'm going to ground you for the weekend."
Origin
The expression "a place for everything and everything in its place has disputed origins. Some experts attribute it to Benjamin Franklin, while others believe it comes from Mrs. Isabella Beeton or Samuel Smiles.
The first appearance of the saying in writing comes from 'The Naughty Girl Won,' a story published in 1799 by the Religious Tract Society. The phrase reads as follows.
"Before, however, Lucy had been an hour in the house; she had contrived a place for everything and put everything in its place."
There are several citations of the phrase from nautical sources around this time. An example comes from the works of Frederick Marryat in "Masterman Ready; or the Wreck of the Pacific," p[ublished in 1842, where it reads as follows.
"In a well-conducted man-of-war every thing is in its place, and there is a place for everything."
Phrases Similar to A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place
- Neat and tidy.
- Keep it tidy.
Phrases Opposite to A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place
- A big mess.
- Like a bomb hit the room.
What is the Correct Saying?
- A place for everything and everything in its place.
Ways People May Say A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place Incorrectly
The phrase "a place for everything and everything neatly in its place" may be confusing for some people to say. If you're not a native English speaker, it may have the same effect as a "tongue twister," making it challenging to pronounce.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place
You can use the phrase, a place for everything, and everything in its place to describe your habit of neatness or refer to someone else's orderly life. You could say it after cleaning your room or home or when visiting someone's house where everything appears neat and put away.
The saying suits social and professional situations. You could use it at work to describe the orderliness of your filing cabinet. Or you could use it at home to explain how everything in your lounge or kitchen is neatly packed away out of sight. The phrase suits verbal exchanges and text-based communications.