in the first place

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

▪ I. in the ˈfirst place idiom
used at the end of a sentence to talk about why sth was done or whether it should have been done or not
•I still don't understand why you chose that name in the first place.
•I should never have taken that job in the first place.
Main entry: ↑place_idiom
 
▪ II. in the ˈfirst, ˈsecond, etc. place idiom
used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the different points you are making in an argument
•Well, in the first place he has all the right qualifications.
Main entry: ↑place_idiom