first thing

Idioms  

1. Before anything else; without delay. For example, Tom was supposed to call him first thing in the morning. [Late 1500s] Also see under first and foremost; first off.

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Example Sentences

"The first thing we saw, which was super bizarre and we didn't expect, was that there were filopodia everywhere," Harnett says.

From Science Daily • May 6, 2026

The first thing I got wrong in November was the idea that markets had already been prepared for the reduction in user metric growth and the costs of accelerated investments.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

“And I don’t know if I looked a little harried or rushed, but the first thing she said to me was, ‘Did you have lunch?’

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

The first thing many people want to ask her about running 100 marathons is what state it left her feet in.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

The first thing I learn is that it was known as the city of three cultures, and that Jews, Muslims, and Christians lived together peacefully for centuries.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar