at first
English
editPronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file) Audio (Mid-Atlantic US): (file)
Prepositional phrase
edit- (idiomatic) Initially; at the start.
- If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
- 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC, page 51:
- “Well,” I answered, at first with uncertainty, then with inspiration, “he would do splendidly to lead your cotillon, if you think of having one.” ¶ “So you do not dance, Mr. Crocker?” ¶ I was somewhat set back by her perspicuity.
- 1978, Dino Fekaris, Freddie Perren (lyrics and music), “I Will Survive”, performed by Gloria Gaynor:
- At first I was afraid, I was petrified / Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
Synonyms
edit- See also Thesaurus:initially
Translations
editinitially; at the start
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