to start with
to start with
1. From the outset; initially; in or at the very beginning. I never would have bought this car to start with if I'd known there weren't airbags. You should have said you were feeling ill to start with! I wouldn't have given you such a hard time if I'd known.
2. As the first of a given set of points (e.g., in an argument). Why am I quitting? Well, to start with, I haven't been paid for overtime in nearly a year, and I just don't feel valued as an employee in general. There are a lot of problems with your paper. To start with, you just seem to move from point to point at random.
See also: start
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
to start with
Also, to begin with. In the first place, initially, as in We'll notify him by e-mail to start with, or To begin with, they haven't paid their taxes in years. The first term dates from the second half of the 1800s, the variant from the mid-1500s. Also see for openers.
See also: start
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
to start with
1. At the beginning; initially.
2. In any case.
See also: start
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- to begin with
- from the outset
- at the outset
- at/from the outset
- outset
- in the first place
- flying start
- a flying start
- out of the chute
- off to a flying start