in-the-first-place
Chunk: in-the-first-place
Formulaic Unit
Meaning: A phrase generally placed at the end of a sentence to refer back to the origin, beginning, or fundamental reason of a situation. It is commonly used to express regret or frustration about an action that should not have happened at all.
💬 Contextual Examples
- *If you didn't want to go, why did you agree to it in the first place?
- *We wouldn't be in this mess if we had followed the instructions in the first place.
🎴 Interactive Web Practice (Click to Reveal)
Practice 1: I don't know why I bought this ugly shirt in the ______ place.
Answer:
first
Practice 2: You shouldn't have lied to her in the first ______.
Answer:
place
🔗 Knowledge Base Connections
- 🔑 Parent Keyword: place