The first at the mill grinds first, [85]

The first bird gets the first grain, [353]

The first blow is as good as two, [33], [103]

The first comer grinds first (First come, first served), [33]

The first dish pleases every one, [107]

The first in the boat has the choice of oars, [317]

The first occasion offered quickly take, lest thou repine at what thou didst forsake, [320]

The first step binds one to the second, [33]

The first step is all the difficulty, [26] (See The difficult thing)

The first wife is a broom, and the second a lady, [228]