“First things first”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase First things first means prioritizing the most important tasks or issues before handling others. It emphasizes the need to address fundamental or critical matters before moving on to secondary ones.
Tone The tone of the phrase is generally pragmatic and straightforward, often used to convey a sense of practicality and efficiency.
Where it comes from
The phrase First things first has been used in English since at least the 16th century, but it was popularized in modern times by Stephen Covey in his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”
Examples
- First things first, let’s make sure we have all the necessary supplies before starting the project.
- I know you want to have fun, but first things first, you must finish your homework.
- First things first: we need to find a place to stay for the night.
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