You’ve probably heard the saying “First come, first served,” but what does it mean? It means that people will receive some service in the order of arrival. Read on to learn more about this phrase, including whether or not “first come, first serve” is correct.
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What Is First Come, First Served?
“First come, first served” is an idiom that means priority will go to those who show up first. With it comes the implication that late arrivers will get less, have fewer options, or receive nothing at all.
No one knows when “first come, first served” actually came about. However, language scholars have found the earliest recorded instance of it dating to 1545.
The saying became popular in the 19th century. Shopkeepers would shout this out when products were ready for purchase. The goal was to create a sense of urgency in customers so that they wouldn’t miss out.
Example sentences:
- Dinner will be ready at 6, and it’s first come, first served.
- 100 free tickets will be available at 8 tomorrow morning; they’ll be first come, first served.
- This restaurant doesn’t take reservations and instead operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The campground makes sites available on a first-come, first-served; let’s get there early.
- The free clinic will be open until noon, and it’s first come, first served for patients.
When and How to Use First Come, First Served?
“First come, first served” is a common expression in both formal and informal settings. People use the FCFS acronym in texting and social media.
Serving food is a classic example of how this term works. If someone yells out, “First come, first served,” those who arrive will get the first pick of what’s available to eat. Stragglers may miss out on the best choices, and they may even get little or nothing at all.
In effect, this idiom is appropriate whenever time or resources are limited, and not hurrying suggests a missed opportunity. It can, therefore, be an effective persuasion tactic by spurring people to act fast.
What about punctuation? In all of our examples so far, a comma separates the two parts of the saying. This is correct since there is a natural pause there.
People really mindful of grammar will tell you that it should really be hyphenated — first-come, first-served — in many cases. This is especially so when a noun follows the phrase. Consider this modified example from before:
- This restaurant doesn’t take reservations and instead operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tip: First-come and first-served are adjectives modifying the noun basis. When we use two words to make one adjective modifying a noun after it, we usually use hyphens.
Is It First Come, First Serve or First Served?
It’s first served. If you say or write out the complete phrase, it would be, “The first to come will be the first to be served.” The other version would say, “The first to come will be the first to serve.”
Other Ways To Say First Come, First Served
There are some other ways to convey this idea. Here are some options:
- The early bird gets the worm.
- Get it while the gettin’s good.
- Strike while the iron is hot.
- You snooze, you lose.
- Get it before it’s gone.
Final Thoughts
“First come, first served” says that the first to show up will be first to receive what’s being offered. If you say “First come, first serve,” people will probably know what you mean, but the meaning is different. You should avoid it unless the goal is to trick someone.
