early

at someone's earliest convenience

as soon as it is possible for someone to do something. (This is also a polite way of saying immediately.) Please stop by my office at your earliest convenience. Bill, please have the oil changed at your earliest convenience.

See also: convenience

at an early date

soon; some day soon. The note said, "Please call me at an early date." You are expected to return the form to the office at an early date.

See also: date

bright and early

very early in the morning or the workday. Yes, I'll be there bright and early. I want to see you here on time tomorrow, bright and early, or you're fired!

See also: and, bright

early bird 

1. . Fig. a person who gets up early. I never miss sunrise. I'm an early bird. The early birds were up at dawn and ready for breakfast.

2. Fig. a person who arrives early. The early birds get the best seats. There were some early birds who arrived before the party was set to start.

3. Fig. having to do with early arrival. (Usually hyphenated.) Early-bird arrivals will be given a free cup of coffee. The early-bird special this week is a free six-pack of iced tea for the first 100 visitors.

See also: bird

early on

early; at an early stage. We recognized the problem early on, but we waited too long to do something about it. This doesn't surprise me. I knew about it early on.

Early ripe, early rotten, and Soon ripe, soon rotten.

Prov. A child with extraordinary talent or intelligence will probably lose those qualities by the time he or she grows up. Jill: Philip was such a fine young boy; I'm surprised he's become such a good-for-nothing adult. Jane: Early ripe, early rotten. Jane: You must be very proud of your little boy. He seems so mature for his age. Ellen: I'm afraid it won't last. You know what they say: "Soon ripe, soon rotten."

See also: rotten

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Prov. Going to bed early and waking up early is good for success. Grandmother: I don't think it's good for you to be staying out so late, dear. Early to bed and early to rise—Grandson: Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Yeah, Grandma, I know. Host: Don't leave so soon! The party's just beginning. Guest: It's past my bedtime, I'm afraid. Host: Early to bed, early to rise, huh?

See also: and, bed, make, man, wise

gotta get up pretty early in the morning to (do something)

Rur. it would be difficult to do something (specified) because of the ability or quality involved. You gotta get up pretty early in the morning to cheat Bill Johnson. He's a sharp businessman for sure. You gotta get up pretty early in the morning to know your Bible better than Preacher Harris.

See also: get, gotta, morning, pretty, up

The early bird catches the worm.

Prov. If you wake up and get to work early, you will succeed. (Sometimes used to remark that someone is awake and working surprisingly early, as in the first example.) Fred: What are you doing in the office at 7:30 A.M.? Jane: The early bird catches the worm. I didn't expect to see you studying at the library at this hour of the morning. The early bird catches the worm, huh?

See also: bird, catch, worm

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an early bath  (British & Australian informal)

if you take an early bath, you are forced to stop doing an activity sooner than you intended to

Usage notes: This phrase is often used about sports such as football.

The spokesman took an early bath after a series of embarrassing and incorrect statements. And that's his second yellow card so it looks like an early bath for Taylor.

See also: bath

an early bird

someone who gets up early in the morning Ellen's the early bird in this house, not me.

See also: bird

bright and early

very early in the morning You're up bright and early.

See also: and, bright

it's early days (yet)  (British & Australian)

something that you say which means that it is too soon to make a judgement about something Both teams are near the bottom of the league, but it's early days yet.

See also: days

The early bird catches the worm.

something that you say in order to tell someone that if they want to be successful they should do something immediately If you see a job that interests you, apply as soon as possible. The early bird catches the worm.

See also: bird, catch, worm

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at your earliest convenience

as soon as you can Call me back at your earliest convenience.

See also: convenience

bright and early

very early in the morning You'll have to be at the airport bright and early to make that flight.

See also: and, bright

early on

shortly after the beginning He decided early on that this was the perfect school for him.

it's early days (yet)

it is too soon to make a judgment about something It looks like we will earn a profit, but it's early days yet and we can't be sure.

See also: days