A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place
Meaning
This phrase is used to lay stress on the importance of being organized and keeping all things in place after use. Also it means everything should be placed properly in place before and after its usage.
Origin
The Ohio Repository, Canton, Ohio, December 1827 used this phrase in ‘Neatness’, by Reverend C. A. Goodrich:
“There is as much meaning in the old adage, and the observance of which let me urge you as a remedy for every degree of evil I advert [sic] to – ‘Have a place for every thing, and keep every thing in its proper place.’”
The Hagerstown Mail, used it in ‘Brother Jonathan’s Wife’s Advice to her Daughter on her Marriage’ in 1841:
“A place for everything and everything in time are good family mottos.”
Frederick Marryat’s in 1842 used it as:
“In a well-conducted man-of-war every thing is in its place, and there is a place for every thing.”