# the first thing

idiom · CEFR A2

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

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- I drink coffee as the first thing every morning.
- The first thing I do when I arrive at the office is check my emails.
- As the first thing upon waking, she would sit by the window to watch the sunrise and plan her day.

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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.