First thing Meaning in English
expression
Definition
An informal expression used to mean 'at the very beginning of the day' or 'as the first thing to do before anything else', often about priorities or routines.
Usage & Nuances
Very informal and common in both speech and writing. Usually used with 'in the morning' or 'tomorrow', like 'first thing in the morning'. Common mistake: don't use as a specific time; it's about sequence, not the exact hour.
Spanish: lo primero (que) - a primera horaPortuguese (BR): primeira coisa - logo de manhãPortuguese (PT): primeira coisa - logo de manhãChinese (Simplified): 一早 - 第一件事Chinese (Traditional): 一早 - 第一件事Hindi: सबसे पहलेArabic: أول شيءBengali: প্রথমেই - দিনের শুরুতেRussian: первым деломJapanese: 真っ先に - 一番最初にVietnamese: đầu tiên - việc đầu tiênKorean: 가장 먼저Turkish: ilk iş olarak - ilk önceUrdu: سب سے پہلےIndonesian: pertama-tama - paling awal
Example Sentences
I'll send you the documents first thing in the morning.
natural
I drink water first thing every morning.
basic
Call me first thing tomorrow.
basic
She checks her email first thing at work.
basic
Let’s grab coffee first thing when we get there.
natural
He finishes his hardest task first thing to get it out of the way.
natural