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in the first place

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in the first place

in the beginning We should never have agreed to do this in the first place.

See also: first, place

in the first place

in the beginning We should never have agreed to this in the first place. We only had four of these glasses in the first place, and now I've broken two of them.

See also: first, place

in the first place

1. From the beginning, at the outset, before anything else. For example, Why didn't you tell me in the first place that you've decided to leave? or He could have bought a new one in the first place.

2. As the first of several items in order of importance. This phrase is usually accompanied by in the second place, third place, and so on, as in I'm not joining the health club because, in the first place, I don't like their hours, and in the second place, I can't afford the dues . [First half of 1600s] Also see for one.

See also: first, place