in the first place

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪn ðə ˈfɜːst pleɪs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪn ðə ˈfɜ˞st pleɪs/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ɪn ðə ˈfɜːst plæɪs/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

in the first place

1. (sequence, idiomatic) to begin with; earlier; first; at the start

   The question is not whether I still enjoy the job, when I never enjoyed it in the first place.

   In the first place, let's get the basics settled.

• (at the start): See also Thesaurus:initially
• (earlier):
• (first in sequence): See also Thesaurus:firstly

• above all