# the first thing I did

idiom · CEFR A2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/the-first-thing-i-did
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

you use this to talk about the very first action you took in a sequence of events.

## Examples

- The first thing I did was turn on the lights.
- When I arrived at the hotel, the first thing I did was check the view from my balcony.
- Upon discovering the error in the financial report, the first thing I did was contact the department head to initiate an immediate review of the data.

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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.