in the first place

• in the first place

in the first place

Rule

before now; "why didn't you tell me in the first place?"

Synonyms:

• in the first place
• earlier
• in the beginning
• to begin with
• originally

Rule

of primary import; "this is primarily a question of economics"; "it was in the first place a local matter"

Synonyms:

• primarily
• in the first place