in the first place
Before now; in the beginning; first.
You already ate breakfast! Why didn't you tell me that in the first place instead of saying you didn't want to eat?
Carl patched his old football but it soon leaked again. He should have bought a new one in the first place.
in the first place
in the second place
in the third place
in the place
As the (first or second or third, etc.) thing in order or importance; first, second, or third, etc. Used with first, second, third, and other ordinal numbers.
No, you cannot go swimming. In the first place, the water is too cold; and, in the second place, there is not time enough before dinner.
Stealing is wrong, in the first place, because it hurts others, and, in the second place, because it hurts you.