in the first place

in the first place  {adv. phr.}
1. 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.
2. See: IN THE PLACE.
Categories: {adv. phr.}