Idiom
in the first place
Meaning
you use this to talk about the beginning of a situation or the original reason for something. it often helps you explain why a problem started or why a choice was made.
Examples
“Why did you buy this broken phone in the first place?”
“I should have checked the weather forecast in the first place, because now we are stuck in the rain without umbrellas.”
“The committee questioned why the project was approved in the first place, given the lack of clear evidence to support its long-term viability.”
Examples
simple
“Why did you buy this broken phone in the first place?”
contextual
“I should have checked the weather forecast in the first place, because now we are stuck in the rain without umbrellas.”
complex
“The committee questioned why the project was approved in the first place, given the lack of clear evidence to support its long-term viability.”
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated