at the first sign

phrase

: 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

Six years ago, the signing of the Abraham Accords was dismissed by skeptics as a fragile, fair-weather agreement, bound to shatter at the first sign of Middle Eastern turbulence. — Liron Zaslansky, semafor.com, 22 July 2026

To mitigate these issues, inspect the foliage regularly and spray organic neem oil at the first sign of pests and disease. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026

Nothing kills an outfit faster than a rigid denim waistband digging into your sides or linen trousers wrinkling at the first sign of sitting. — Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026

Jason Baer, the lawyer who’d shared several cases with Motta, began the process of withdrawing as co-counsel at the first sign of a federal investigation. — Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

Rhymes for at the first sign

• aconitine
• anopheline
• antipyrine
• bromocriptine
• chlorhexidine
• clomipramine
• creatinine
• desipramine
• guanethidine
• heterodyne
• imipramine
• meperidine