Dictionary

first things first en · X

Meanings

1. Let's deal with matters of highest priority first; let's deal with matters in logical sequence.
   • Judging by the polls—which still favor Clinton and his mantra of “first things first” (Medicare and education)—the public senses it too. 1999 July 23, Frank Pellegrini, “House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty”, in Time, archived from the original on 30 Apr 2009:
   • There is a sound common-sense maxim, frequently heard among the wise and prudent of this world—First things first, […] 1830, Christian Observer, On Prophetic Speculation:
   • “First things first,” said Sir Richmond. “If we set about getting fuel sanely, if we do it as the deliberate, co-operative act of the whole species, then it follows that we shall look very closely into the use that is being made of it.” 1922, H. G. Wells, chapter 4, in The Secret Places of the Heart:
   • First things first, you need the right tools. 2007 October 21, Jenni Muir, “Essentials for a wannabe chef—sugar, cream, mouse”, in Sunday Times, UK:

Forms

Translations (28)

cs začněme od začátku (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · es lo primero es lo primero (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · pt vamos começar pelo começo (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · ga an chuid is tábhachtaí ar dtús (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · cmn 要緊的事先做 /要紧的事先做 (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · fr commençons par le commencement (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · fr chaque chose en son temps (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · fr parons au plus pressé (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · sv börja från början (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · de eins nach dem anderen (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · es primero lo primero (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · ru всё по поря́дку (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · ru обо всём по поря́дку (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · cs jedno po druhém (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · fi asiat tärkeysjärjestykseen (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · he דבר ראשון (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · fi tärkeimmät asiat ensin (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · pl po pierwsze (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · it andiamo con ordine (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · de das Wichtigste zuerst (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · fr faisons les choses dans l'ordre (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · hu kezdjük a lényeggel (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · hu csak sorjában (szép) (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · cmn 重要的事情先來 /重要的事情先来 (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · hu mindent a maga idejében (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · sv börja i rätt ända (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · sv börja i rätt ände (let's deal with matters of highest priority first) · cmn 首要的事首先辦 /首要的事首先办 (let's deal with matters of highest priority first)