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Peaceblinkfriend Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

"first off"

I heard someone said 'first off' to start what their were going to say the other day. However, I am not a hundred percent sure that was what she said. If people do say that, I assume it means the same thing as 'firstly', right? Are there any other meanings besides this? Also, is it an informal thing to say?

Thanks

PBF
  

Top answer

First off = to start with. First off I'm going to finish the painting. Then I'm going for a walk.

— Optilang

  • First off = to start with.
  • First off I'm going to finish the painting.
  • Then I'm going for a walk.
  • It is also used when giving a list of reasons for something.
  • Why don't you like going to the cinema?
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4 Answers
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First off = to start with.

First off I'm going to finish the painting. Then I'm going for a walk.

It is also used when giving a list of reasons for something.

Why don't you like going to the cinema?

Well, first off, you can't smoke, its dark and the soundtrack is always too loud.
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Thanks optilang.

So it can be used the same way as 'to begin with' and 'to start with'.

It can be replaced with 'firstly' when used in the sense of starting off a list, can't it?

Thank you again for you help.

PBF
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1. I think that 'firstly' is not used much in the US.

2. 'First off' may have evolved from 'first of all', but that is only an observation on my part [not really important].
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I agree with Philip. I'd also expect to hear 'firstly' in more formal contexts (if and when I heard someone use it in AmE).

'First off' sound somewhat informal to me.
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