linking phrase · formal
in the first place
UK/ɪn ðə fɜːst pleɪs/US/ɪn ðə fɜːrst pleɪs/in the FIRST·place
used to state the primary reason or to emphasise a point, often in contrast or negation
Examples
“In the first place, we cannot afford such high costs.”
“She shouldn't have done it in the first place.”
“In the first place, poor planning caused the delay.”
Band 8 sentence
“In the first place, the lack of affordable housing is what drives migration to larger cities.”
Collocations
- In the first place, ___
- shouldn't have done it in the first place
Word family
Common mistakes
In first place, we have to...→In the first place, we have to...
First place, I think it's wrong.→In the first place, I think it's wrong.
Say it for a higher band
5first→6first of all→7+in the first place
Synonyms
first of all
Easily confused
first of all
“First of all, we need to collect enough data before making conclusions.”
Related words
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In Sequence
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