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Cleanliness is next to Godliness. (old-fashioned)

something that you say which means that except for worshipping God, the most important thing in life is to be clean. Could you try to wash behind your ears occasionally? Cleanliness is next to Godliness, you know.

the [first/highest/next etc.] rung on the ladder

the first, highest, next etc. position, especially in society or in a job. In our society, a nurse is hardly on the same rung of the ladder as a judge. President of the Union at Oxford University was the first rung on the political ladder for him.

See also: first, high, ladder

from one moment to the next

if things change from one moment to the next, they change quickly or frequently. The plans are being changed from one moment to the next. You never know from one moment to the next what kind of mood he'll be in.

See also: from, moment

in next to no time (informal, informal)

if something happens or is done in no time, it happens or is done extremely quickly. It's only another mile or so. We'll be there in next to no time. He had the food ready in no time.

See also: time

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next to

almost. It is supposed to be next to impossible to escape from a high-tech, maximum security prison.

next to nothing

very little. She knows next to nothing about politics. The town has done next to nothing about the parking problem.

See also: nothing