first things first

English

Alternative forms

• first thing's first

Phrase

first things first

1. Let's deal with matters of highest priority first; let's deal with matters in logical sequence. [19th c.]
   • 1830, Christian Observer, On Prophetic Speculation:

     There is a sound common-sense maxim, frequently heard among the wise and prudent of this world—First things first, […]

   • 1922, H. G. Wells, chapter 4, in The Secret Places of the Heart:

     “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.”

   • 1999 July 23, Frank Pellegrini, “House Republicans Quell Mutiny Over Tax Bounty”, in Time‎, archived from the original on 30 April 2009:

     Judging by the polls—which still favor Clinton and his mantra of “first things first” (Medicare and education)—the public senses it too.

   • 2007 October 21, Jenni Muir, “Essentials for a wannabe chef—sugar, cream, mouse”, in Sunday Times‎, UK:

     First things first, you need the right tools.

Usage notes

Can be used as an aphorism or admonition, but also to introduce a topic or list.

Translations

let's deal with matters of highest priority first

Arabic: please add this translation if you can Chinese: Mandarin: 重要的事情先來 / 重要的事情先来 (zhòngyào de shìqing xiān lái), 要緊的事先做 / 要紧的事先做 (yàojǐn de shì xiān zuò), 首要的事首先辦 / 首要的事首先办 (shǒuyào de shì shǒuxiān bàn) Danish: please add this translation if you can Finnish: tärkeimmät asiat ensin, asiat tärkeysjärjestykseen French: parons au plus pressé (fr), commençons par le commencement, faisons les choses dans l'ordre, chaque chose en son temps German: das Wichtigste zuerst, eins nach dem anderen Hebrew: דבר ראשון (davár rishón) Hungarian: csak (szép) sorjában, mindent a maga idejében, (let’s start with the main thing) kezdjük a lényeggel Irish: an chuid is tábhachtaí ar dtús Italian: andiamo con ordine Japanese: please add this translation if you can Korean: please add this translation if you can Polish: po pierwsze (pl) Portuguese: vamos começar pelo começo Russian: всё по поря́дку (vsjo po porjádku), обо всём по поря́дку (obo vsjom po porjádku) Spanish: primero lo primero, lo primero es lo primero (es) Swedish: börja från början (verb), börja i rätt ände m (verb), börja i rätt ända f (verb)