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
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
Medication typically works better if taken at the first sign of an attack.3
Symptoms by Phase
The premonitory phase is the first stage of a migraine, occurring before the headache begins.
—Janelle McSwiggin, Msn, Health, 17 Mar. 2025
During Trump's first term, his tax cuts for the ultra-rich exploded the deficit, and at the first sign of economic trouble, the economy stumbled.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 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.
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
Medication typically works better if taken at the first sign of an attack.3
Symptoms by Phase
The premonitory phase is the first stage of a migraine, occurring before the headache begins.
—Janelle McSwiggin, Msn, Health, 17 Mar. 2025
During Trump's first term, his tax cuts for the ultra-rich exploded the deficit, and at the first sign of economic trouble, the economy stumbled.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 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 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share