first things first

F

first things first

Meaning

• to have a priority order
• to follow a sequence in which the priorities are placed in a descending order
• to deal with things that are important over other things

Example Sentences

1. The deal is on but first things first, let’s discuss how the remuneration for the work will be done.
2. I’m starving, so first things first, let’s go for dinner.
3. Have you spoken about the problem with your class teacher? But first things first, have you confronted the guy for doing this to you every day?
4. She knows she has to come home for the celebrations. But first things first, she has to get all of her meetings done.
5. This is going to be a long meeting with how much we have to discuss, but first things first, can someone print out an agenda for me please?
6. First things first, let’s take a stroll to talk about your business before we talk about the capital investment with the bank.
7. You should have read the instruction manual before you started the assembling process, first things first.

Origin

The phrase is in used since many centuries now and has recently been made more popular by Stephen Covey, a popular self-help writer, who wrote a book in the year 1994 by the same title.