English Phrase of the Day

Definitions

English > English
first of all
1. adv. (sequence, idiomatic) Firstly; before anything else.
Analysis
first		©
1. adj. Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one; earliest.
The first day of September 2013 was a Sunday.
I was the first runner to reach the finish line, and won the race.
2. adj. Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest.
Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece.
of		©
1. prep. Expressing distance or motion.
2. prep.          (now obsolete, or dialectal) From (of distance, direction), "off".
3. prep.          (obsolete except in phrases) Since, from (a given time, earlier state etc.).
4. prep.          From, away from (a position, number, distance etc.).
There are no shops within twenty miles of the cottage.
all		©
1. adv. (degree) intensifier.
It suddenly went all quiet.
She was all, “Whatever.”
2. adv. (poetic) Entirely.
3. adv. Apiece; each.

Example Sentences

First of all, here's the locket.  First of all, it does look as if this was the part of the war the military planners got right.  First of all, it has to be strong enough to stand up, because it has no skeleton.  First of all, this is a middleweight you'll be fighting.

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