for openers
As a first step; for starters. A: "I'd like to help in some way, if I can." B: "OK. For openers, you could set up chairs for the guests." A: "OK, what did I do wrong?" B: "Well, for openers, you put all of yesterday's paperwork in the wrong file." For openers, I want to thank all of you for being here tonight.
for starters
1. As one example or reason (out of several potential ones). Why don't I like musicals? Well, for starters, I just can't take a story seriously when it's set to music. I prefer shopping at brick-and-mortar shops. It's nice talking to someone in person, for starters. Why am I annoyed? Well, for starters, you were 30 minutes late!
2. Initially; as a beginning. A: "I'd like to help in some way, if I can." B: "OK. For starters, you could set up chairs for the guests." For starters, I want to thank all of you for being here tonight. A: "I thought we were going to bake with Grandma today." B: "We are, but we have to find the hand mixer, for starters."
non-starter
1. An issue, topic, or person that makes no progress or shows little evidence of future success. I know you worked really hard on that proposal, but it's a non-starter—the committee refuses to even consider it. You want to be a doctor? Boy, that's a non-starter—you can't even handle the sight of blood! I wouldn't have too much faith in Bobby—he's a nonstarter, and this business will probably just become another in a long line of failures for him.
2. sports One who does not start the game or race. This phrase is often used in horse racing. I watched the race—what happened to our horse? Why was he a non-starter? I may be a non-starter now, but my goal is to supplant the first-string quarterback in time.
under starter's orders
Literally, ready to begin a competition, especially a race, when signaled by the starter (the person who officially marks the beginning of the event). It wasn't until we were all under starter's orders that an official stopped the race due an accusation that one of the jockeys had tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
for openers
and for startersto start with. For openers, they played a song everyone knows. For starters, I'll serve a delicious soup.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
for openers
Also, for starters. To begin with. For example, Out of 50 possible jurors they eliminated 30, for openers, or She believed him, which indicated, for starters, that she was very gullible. The word starters is also used for the appetizer or first course of a meal, as in For starters we had shrimp cocktail. [Mid-1900s]
starters
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
under starter's orders
BRITISHIf someone is under starter's orders, they are ready to do a task, and can begin doing it immediately if necessary, and if something is under starter's orders, it is ready to start. There are over a hundred such schemes under starter's orders by central and local government. Note: When the horses in a race are under starter's orders, they are in the correct position at the start of the race, and are waiting for the signal for the race to begin.
for starters
INFORMAL1. People say for starters to introduce the first thing or things in a series of things. It'll be nicer than being at home, in some ways. No kids and dogs, for starters. There was so much I needed to know. How did my previous beliefs fit in with what I was now discovering, for starters?
2. People say for starters to talk about the first thing to be done. I'd like to punch him on the nose for starters.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
for openers
to start with; first of all. informalunder starter's orders
(of horses, runners, or other competitors) ready to start a race on receiving the signal from the starter.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
for ˈopeners
(informal, especially American English) to begin with; for a start: For openers, I don’t think his work is very original.under ˌstarters ˈorders
(of a runner, rider, etc.) waiting for a signal to start the raceFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
for openers
Informal To begin with: "Out of 54 potential jurors, they knocked 20 off ... just for openers" (Joseph DiMona).
for starters
Informal To begin with; initially: "Deborah believes him, indicating, for starters, that she isn't the brightest" (Judith Crist).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.