at the first sign
idiom
: as soon as something happens that indicates an action or event has begun to take place
The bartender called the police at the first sign of trouble.
At the first sign of spring she planted annuals in her flower beds.
Examples of at the first sign in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Reach out to a pediatrician, health care specialist, or therapist at the first sign that your child’s toxic friendship is impacting their mental health.
—
wendy Wisner, Parents, 14 Apr. 2025
But being vigilant and seeking medical attention at the first sign of the illness—which is caused by a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same culprit behind chicken pox—can make a big difference in your recovery.
—Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 9 Apr. 2025
This mindset: • Creates consistent, growing income for the owner; and
• Allows the business to scale without hitting panic mode at the first sign of trouble.
—Patrick Lonergan, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Andrew Kelly/Reuters/File Big Law as big business The extent to which some firms have folded at the first sign of danger is worrying to many lawyers and legal experts.
—Henry Gass, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the first sign
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
wendy Wisner, Parents, 14 Apr. 2025
But being vigilant and seeking medical attention at the first sign of the illness—which is caused by a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same culprit behind chicken pox—can make a big difference in your recovery.
—Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 9 Apr. 2025
This mindset: • Creates consistent, growing income for the owner; and
• Allows the business to scale without hitting panic mode at the first sign of trouble.
—Patrick Lonergan, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Andrew Kelly/Reuters/File Big Law as big business The extent to which some firms have folded at the first sign of danger is worrying to many lawyers and legal experts.
—Henry Gass, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the first sign
Cite this Entry
“At the first sign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/at%20the%20first%20sign. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share