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.

---

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

When you walk into the lounge, the first thing you’ll see is a bright red check-in desk that resembles a performer’s dressing room with vanity lights, several mirrors and a range of wigs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

The first thing that had to go right was an unbelievable stroke of luck on the unluckiest night of Tatum’s life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

The first thing he saw was the black dog asleep in a dog bed.

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness