ladies first

USAGE SUMMARY

"ladies first" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in any situation when you want to give precedence to women or emphasize the importance of respecting and honoring women. For example: "As we enter the room, let's remember to observe the age-old tradition of 'ladies first!'".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

"Ladies first, ladies first!" a man appears to holler over the chaos. .

Huffington Post

"Ladies first," somebody said.

The New Yorker

I have a - ladies first, right?

The New York Times

In short, "ladies first" wasn't all bad.

The New Yorker

It is ladies first for us".

The New York Times - Sports

Why don't we say ladies first, so Christine your choice.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Tinder also recently said it would roll out a ladies-first option in its app, which is the thing Bumble is best known for.

TechCrunch

It also happened to be a ladies-first situation with her future grandmothers' families leading the way.

Huffington Post

"One cultural thing to note is that there is a strong 'ladies first' orientation there," she said at a meeting organized by Ryugaku Journal, an overseas study agency.

The New York Times

oooOOooOOoo...LADIES FIRST! — Mike Servito (@mikeservito)January 21 , 2017

Vice

The slogan for this early-bird event is 'Ladies First' and men will only be allowed in when accompanied by a lady.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a modern audience, consider if the gendered nature of the phrase might be perceived as outdated or patronizing

Common error

Avoid using "ladies first" in professional business environments where rank or client status usually takes precedence over gender. In these settings, defaulting to gender-based priority can inadvertently undermine professional equality.

Linguistic Context

The expression "ladies first" functions as an idiomatic directive used to establish a sequence of action based on traditional social decorum. According to Ludwig AI, it is structurally simple and grammatically accepted as a complete elliptical sentence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "ladies first" is a well-established idiomatic phrase that remains highly relevant in contemporary English. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct and widely used expression across prestigious publications. While its frequency is high in news and media, writers should be mindful of the shifting social landscape where gender-neutral alternatives like "after you" are becoming more standard in professional environments. Ultimately, it serves as a linguistic bridge between traditional manners and modern social interaction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

women first

Uses a slightly more modern noun choice while maintaining the same social rule.

girls first

Commonly heard in informal school settings or casual youth-oriented contexts.

after you

A polite, gender-neutral way to offer someone else the opportunity to go first.

you go first

A direct and informal invitation for the other person to proceed.

please, proceed

A formal and polite way to yield the way to another person.

women and children first

Commonly used in emergency or maritime contexts to denote safety priorities.

precedence to women

A more formal and clinical way to describe the underlying social policy.

age before beauty

A playful and often humorous way to suggest precedence between two people.

honorary precedence

Refers to the broader concept of giving priority based on status or courtesy.

chivalry dictates

Explains the motivation behind the action rather than the action itself.

FAQs

How to use "ladies first" in a sentence?

You can use "ladies first" as a standalone exclamation or part of a narrative. For example: "As they reached the elevator, he held the door and said, 'Ladies first.'"

What can I say instead of "ladies first"?

You can use alternatives like "after you", "please proceed" or "you go first" depending on the context.

Is "ladies first" still appropriate in professional settings?

In modern business, it is often replaced by gender-neutral politeness such as "after you" or following hierarchy rather than gender.

What is the difference between "ladies first" and "women and children first"?

The phrase "ladies first" is a general social etiquette for everyday life, while "women and children first" is specifically used in life-threatening or emergency evacuation situations.