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
Move indoors at the first sign of threatening skies or the first sound of thunder.
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Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
Act at the first sign of physical/cognitive need for help.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Whether progress endures will depend on whether state policymakers resist the urge to slack on debt reduction at the first sign of improvement.
—Andrew Fowler, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2025
The Warriors, predictably, buckled at the first sign of resistance.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for at the first sign
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Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2025
Act at the first sign of physical/cognitive need for help.
—Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Whether progress endures will depend on whether state policymakers resist the urge to slack on debt reduction at the first sign of improvement.
—Andrew Fowler, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2025
The Warriors, predictably, buckled at the first sign of resistance.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 1 May 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 23 May. 2025.
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