first come, first served

Cultural  

1. Those who are first to arrive will be the first to be waited on.

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first come, first served Idioms  

1. Those who precede others will have their needs attended to earliest, as in So many people showed up that we may not have enough food to go around, so let it be “first come, first served.” The idea is very old, but the first recorded use of this precise phrase was in 1545. Also see early bird catches the worm.

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Example Sentences

A last-minute sales phase will take place closer to the tournament, during which fans will be able to purchase any remaining inventory on a first come, first served basis.

From BBC • Nov. 19, 2025

A game will cost you $25 and is first come, first served.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025

To impose some order on the chaos, the newcomers embedded in the state’s emerging water laws a cherished frontier principle: first come, first served.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 17, 2023

Some member countries support reviewing applications on a first come first served basis, which would put China first, while others want to focus on the best application.

From Reuters • Jul. 14, 2023

No breaking ranks, no rushing the boats, no first come first served, no devil take the hindmost.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan