ENGLISH
REFERENCE

the first thing

idiom
Meaning

the very first action you take in a situation or at the start of your day.


Examples
SIMPLE

I drink coffee as the first thing every morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The first thing I do when I arrive at the office is check my emails.

COMPLEX

As the first thing upon waking, she would sit by the window to watch the sunrise and plan her day.

Last updated April 22, 2026