first things first

first things first phrase

used for saying that the most important things should be dealt with before anything else

Thesaurus: words used for saying that something is important_synonym

Main entry: first

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used to assert that important matters should be dealt with before other things

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first things first

— used to say that you should do the things that are most important before doing other things

I know you're eager to start shopping for a car, but first things first–you need to find out how much you can afford to spend.

You must set priorities and learn how to put first things first.

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Main Entry: ↑first

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first things first — see ↑first, 1

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Main Entry: ↑thing

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ˌfirst things ˈfirst idiom

(often humorous) the most important matters must be dealt with first

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We have a lot to discuss, but, first things first, let's have a cup of coffee!

Main entry: ↑thing_idiom