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first and last

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first and last

Altogether; on the whole; primarily; above all else. First and last, be sure to be true to your own desires. Though they have begun venturing into other fields of business, the company is a tech firm first and last.

See also: and, first, last

first and last

Under all circumstances, always, as in She was an artist first and last. (For a synonym, see above all.) This expression, first recorded in 1589, should not be confused with the similar-sounding from first to last, which means "from start to finish" or "throughout," as in We cheered them on from first to last.

See also: and, first, last