the first string

the first string

1. The members of sports team who start the game, as opposed to the substitutes; the starters. I made the first string on the football team as a freshman! No one's ever done that before! Keep practicing, and you'll move up to first string pretty soon.
2. By extension, the members of some group who are trusted with the leading roles in something. The boss has the first string working on this, so it must be important.
See also: first, string
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • fair-weather fan
  • take the game to
  • make the team
  • a false start
  • false start
  • full-court press
  • full-court press, a
  • a full-court press
  • meet one's Waterloo
  • meet your Waterloo
References in classic literature
When the fox felt the first string, he started so that he one leg, from pain, but he bore it, and still kept his tail high in the air; at the second sting, he was forced to put it down for a moment; at the third, he could hold out no longer, screamed, and put his tail between his legs.
Fairy Tales
While one hand hung up the first string the other was already unwinding the band on the second leg.
War and Peace
defeating SIndh Colours, the first string of that province, by three goals to nil.
WAPDA and Punjab Colours in semis of National Women Hockey
The last fixture of the day saw Punjab Whites, the second string of the province, defeating Sindh Colours, the first string of that province, by three goals to nil.
Wapda, Punjab in women hockey semis
The first String Project concert featuring both the Kids Orchestra, with around 40 members, and the Youth Orchestra, with around 25 members, was held last December to an audience of nearly 250 people.
Making music
M2 EQUITYBITES-September 17, 2015-Healthcare Staffing Firm AMN Closes Acquisition of The First String
Healthcare Staffing Firm AMN Closes Acquisition of The First String
The first string of the offshore gas pipeline in Russia's territorial waters will be laid later this year.
Turkey approves EIA for South Stream section
Hughes has been top jockey at the meeting for the last four years and took this race 12 months ago with Viewpoint, who runs again, but there is no doubting Sea Shanty is the first string.
Sea Shanty can call Glorious tune
Then I plugged the first string in and it worked perfectly.
Lighting the way this season
It was there that Kieswetter first impressed England coach Andy Flower, top-scoring for the Lions against the first string in a Twenty20 win two years ago.
Craig switch is key
I managed to win Group 1s and Classics on horses who weren't the first string, but this year, when there doesn't seem to be a stable jockey, Aidan seems to be able to use the jockey he thinks will best suit the horse.
Ballydoyle stalwarts relishing new opportunities
There is a midfield vacancy in the first string due to Michael Doyle serving a one match ban and 21-year-old Thornton is seen as a viable option to fill that void at Leicester.
Football: Thornton in frame
Next Saturday they have three matches to play, the first string play Heath in a senior cup, the seconds travel to Ripon in the Yorkshire Cup and the thirds play Wensleydale.
Tales from the Clubhouse; Rugby Notes
The first string produced a clean sweep of wins when they defeated Leicestershire 8-2, Worcestershire 7-3 and Dorset 6-4.
Badminton: County puts on a show of force