first and last

Idioms  

1. Under all circumstances, always, as in She was an artist first and last. (For a synonym, see above all.) This expression, first recorded in 1589, should not be confused with the similar-sounding from first to last, which means “from start to finish” or “throughout,” as in We cheered them on from first to last.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first and last

The 2014 World Cup in Brazil proved to be the first and last for Bosnia's so-called golden generation, as play-off heartbreak struck again for Euro 2016, 2020 and 2024.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

It was the first and last time Copi ever spoke to Davis, but he would go on to photograph him eight times in total.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

Historic freezes in 1894 and 1895 nearly eradicated the industry, its first and last real brush with old-world calamity.

From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026

Only one name on the list is redacted and the rest of the first and last names are public.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 1, 2026

“Do your first and last names start with the same letter?”

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia