at first hand

Idioms  

1. Directly from the origin, without intervention or intermediary. For example, I prefer to hear his criticism at first hand, rather than having it passed on by my boss. This phrase uses hand in the sense of “person” (coming directly from one person). [First half of 1700s] Also see at second hand.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

at first hand

Martha Lucia Pereira, chief executive of luxury real estate agency PresVip, has witnessed the influx of foreign capital at first hand, saying 99 percent of her clients are Latin American.

From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026

Juan Carlos said he wrote the memoirs so that young people "can learn about the recent history of your country without distortions, told by someone who lived through the transition at first hand".

From Barron's ● Dec. 1, 2025

As for the credibility of Israeli witnesses, who else — other than the early responders who encountered the victims at first hand — should be interviewed and quoted by anyone investigating this?

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2024

In 1961, the Berlin Wall was built and Shaw was there to view it at first hand.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2022

We will be having new opportunities to learn more about the physiology of death at first hand, from the increasing numbers of cardiac patients who have been through the whole process and then back again.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas