in the first place

1. From the beginning, at the outset, before anything else. For example, Why didn't you tell me in the first place that you've decided to leave? or He could have bought a new one in the first place .

2. As the first of several items in order of importance. This phrase is usually accompanied by in the second place, third place , and so on, as in I'm not joining the health club because, in the first place, I don't like their hours, and in the second place, I can't afford the dues . [First half of 1600s] Also see for one .

Example Sentences

She believes Denmark's policies serve as a disincentive for people to seek asylum in the first place and is impressed that successful claims are at a 40-year low.

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If it takes any longer to make a call, then it cannot be clear and obvious, which is meant to be the threshold in the first place.

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That is where it came from in the first place.

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The subprime mortgage machine was up and running again, as if it had never broken down in the first place.

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When that fails, they simply propose more of the same taxes or government interventions that got them in trouble in the first place.

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Related Words

• basically 
• chiefly 
• first and foremost 
• generally 
• importantly www.thesaurus.com
• largely 
• mostly 
• notably 
• particularly 
• predominantly www.thesaurus.com