front-row

1. Physically close in proximity to a certain situation or event. Living near this forest my whole life has given me a front-row seat to the changes in local bird populations over the years. You really got us front-row tickets for the Stones' concert? Woo-hoo! Dang, I wish I'd had a front-row seat for that drama in the faculty lounge, but I was teaching at the time!

2. In rugby, positioned at the front of a scrum. If physical contact freaks you out, then you definitely shouldn't be in a front-row position—or playing rugby at all. You've got to have shoulders of steel to be a front-row player. Just playing rugby is dangerous enough, but playing a front-row position is basically asking to get injured!

the front row

1. Literally, the first row of audience seats in a theater, arena, etc. Ugh, I hate sitting in the front row at the movies—it always hurts my neck. You really got us seats in the front row for the Rolling Stones concert? Woo-hoo!

2. In rugby, the forwards that are positioned at the front of a scrum. If physical contact freaks you out, then you definitely shouldn't be in the front row—or playing rugby at all. You've got to have shoulders of steel to play in the front row.