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

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

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

Second-placed Bol said it was surreal to see McLaughlin's pace at first hand.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2022

He had, he said, “seen at first hand the effects of a most grievous fault.”

From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2022

We may be even less willing to face the issue at first hand than our predecessors because of a secret new hope that maybe it will go away.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas