ENGLISH
REFERENCE

first and last

idiom
Meaning

A person's combined given name and surname.


Examples
SIMPLE

Please write your first and last name on the form.

CONTEXTUAL

The teacher asked every student to state their first and last name before starting the oral exam.

COMPLEX

The official document required the applicant to provide their first and last name exactly as they appeared on their birth certificate.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    blink first

    To be the first party in some situation to give in or back down.

  2. 02

    breathe one's last

    To die.

  3. 03

    cast the first stone

    To act self-righteously in accusing another person, believing oneself to be blameless.

  4. 04

    cobbler, keep to your last

    One should not criticise matters outside one's field of expertise; one should mind one's business.

  5. 05

    come first

    To win first place in a competition.

  6. 06

    dead last

    Finishing in last place in a competition or ranking, often by a considerable margin to the next to last place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.

  7. 07

    director of first impressions

    A receptionist.

  8. 08

    draw one's last breath

    To die.

© 2026 English Reference