first2 ●●● S1 W2 adverbadv 1 before anything or anyone else 最先,最早 Cindy and Joe arrived first. 辛迪和乔最早到达。
An extra five points will be given to the team that finishes first. 最先完成的队将再加五分。
First of all we’d better make sure we’ve got everything we need. 首先,我们最好确保所需的东西都齐了。
2 before doing anything else, or before anything else happens 先,首先 I’ll join you in a minute but I need to make a phone call first. 我一会儿就来,但是我得先打个电话。
3 done for the first time 首次,第一次 The book was first published in 2000. 此书2000年首次出版。
4 at the beginning of a situation or activity 开始之时,最初 When we were first married we lived in Toronto. 我们刚结婚时住在多伦多。
We first became friends when we worked together. 我们最初是在共事时成为朋友的。
5 [sentence adverbadv] (also first of all) used before saying the first of several things you want to say 第一,首先 SYN firstly First, I’d like to thank everyone for coming. 首先,我要感谢各位的光临。
6 first off informal a) before doing anything else 先,首先 First off I’d like you all to fill in an evaluation sheet. 首先我想请各位填写一张评估表。
b) used before saying the first of several things you want to say, especially when you are annoyed 首先〔用于想说的几件事之前,尤用于生气时〕 First off I didn’t agree with the comments in your email. 首先,我不同意你电子邮件里的意见。
first off• Well, first off, I want to know what you've done with the money I gave you.
7 first up British EnglishBrE spoken informal used to introduce the first thing you are going to talk about, or the first thing that is going to happen 第一样东西,第一件事 First up is the Blues song ‘Mississippi Lad’. 第一首是蓝调歌曲《密西西比小伙》。
8 put somebody/something first to consider someone or something as the most important person or thing 认为某人/某事最重要,把某人/某事放在第一位 We need to choose energy policies that put the environment first. 我们得选择把环境放在首位的能源政策。
Businesses should always put the customer first. 企业应该始终把顾客放在第一位。
9 come first a) to be the most important person or thing to someone 成为〔某人〕最重要的人[物],处于最重要地位 The care and well-being of patients should always come first. 病人的护理和健康应该始终放在第一位。
As far as I’m concerned, the children come first. 就我而言,孩子最重要。
come first with Business always came first with Luke. 对卢克来说,生意总是第一位的。
b) to win a competition 获得第一come first in The choir came first in all sections of the competition. 该合唱团在比赛中一路过关斩将夺得桂冠。
10 first and foremost used to emphasize the most important quality, purpose, reason etc 首先,首要的是〔用于强调〕 Dublin is thought of first and foremost for its literary heritage. 都柏林首先让人想到的是它的文学遗产。
first and foremost• However my worry is not first and foremost a medical one but a spiritual one.• And Mr Hemsley is first and foremost a producer-not a commodity trader.• It is a film first and foremost about loss.• Mayor Agnos is a conservative Christian, but he considers himself first and foremost an American.• My other travelling companion, John Lawrence, would describe himself first and foremost as a writer.• It has been established that such items as these were employed first and foremost as musical instalments.• This meant, first and foremost, following Bacon in the making of natural histories.• What children need first and foremost from their parents is a sense of security.• Friends say that this was the demand she put first and foremost on the list of what she wanted to achieve.• First and foremost, they are looking for ways to save money.• I really think that first and foremost this one's down to the board. 11 first and last used to emphasize that something is the most important thing or quality 主要地〔强调是最重要的事或品质〕 She regarded herself as a teacher first and last, not a writer. 她认为自己主要是个教师,而不是作家。
12 first come, first servedfirst served first come used to say that something will be given to the people who ask for it first, when there is not enough for everyone 先到先得 Tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. 票的发放遵循先到先得的原则。
on a first come, first served basis• Seating is available on a first come, first served basis. n GrammarChoosing the right tense
First is used with the simple past: We first met in 2005.
✗Don’t say: We have first met in 2005. Word order
First usually comes before a main verb: I first went to Paris two years ago.
First comes after ‘be’ when it is the main verb: I was first in Paris two years ago.
First comes after the first auxiliary: When did you first realize you wanted to be a doctor?
THESAURUSfirst/firstly used when mentioning the first in a list of reasons, arguments, or questions to consider 首先I want you to consider these three points in your essay: first, what is the writer’s attitude to the war in this poem ... 我希望你能在文章中阐述以下三点: 首先,本诗中作者对战争的态度…
There are several reasons for this conclusion. Firstly ... 本结论基于以下理由: 首先…
first of all used especially to emphasize that the first of several things you are going to say is the most important thing 首先〔尤用于强调所说的第一件事最重要〕The content of the article must, first of all, be accurate. 文章的内容首先必须准确无误。
First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last two years. 首先,非常感谢在过去两年里所有支持过我们的人。
in the first place spoken (also for a start British EnglishBrE) spoken used when giving the first and most important reason or example, especially when you are arguing or discussing something with someone 首先〔用于列举重要理由或事例,尤在辩论或讨论时用〕Our main priority should be better public transport – in the first place to reduce the amount of traffic on our roads. 我们的重点应当是改善公共交通——首先要减少马路上的车流量。
He’s not the right person for the job. For a start he’s too young. 他不是这份工作的合适人选。首先,他太年轻。
to begin with/to start with spoken used when telling someone the first and most important thing that you want to say 首先〔用于说明最先以及最重要的事〕There are numerous activities on offer. To start with there are over 60 miles of walks with splendid views. 有各式各样的活动可供选择。首先便是长达60多英里的徒步观景之旅。
nLet me tell you something about him. To begin with, he is the most difficult man that I know.