# first port of call

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/first-port-of-call
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The first place to go to start a process.

## Examples

- The local library is my first port of call for research.
- If you have a problem with your computer, the help desk is your first port of call.
- When the company faces a sudden financial crisis, the legal department serves as the first port of call for guidance on regulatory compliance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.