Angliholic  +  465746 Fri, 18 Jan 08 09:36 AM First come, first served. Does the above come from "If you come first, you'll be served first?" If not, where does it derive from? Thanks. Angliholic Joined on Wed, Feb 14 2007 SomewhereinFormosa Veteran Member 6,474 Without true love, life is meaningless and worthless since our physical world is nothing but a dream. ~~Angliholic~~簡瑞達

	nona the brit  +  465751 Fri, 18 Jan 08 09:44 AM You've worked it out ok. nona the brit Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004 England Veteran Member 11,713 The name says it all.

	Yoong Liat  +  465904 Fri, 18 Jan 08 04:44 PM  Angliholic wrote: First come, first served. Does the above come from "If you come first, you'll be served first?" If not, where does it derive from? Thanks. You're right. Yoong Liat Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006 Veteran Member 6,757

	Philip  +  465965 Fri, 18 Jan 08 08:04 PM And remember that it is 'served' in spite of the fact that many people spell and say it without the d. Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,738 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

	Yoong Liat  +  466141 Sat, 19 Jan 08 08:12 AM It it is wrongly written as 'First come, first serve', then I think it means since you come first, you have to serve the guest/s first. Yoong Liat

	Philip  +  466218 Sat, 19 Jan 08 02:29 PM  Yoong Liat wrote: It it is wrongly written as 'First come, first serve', then I think it means since you come first, you have to serve the guest/s first. That might be what it would mean, but to my knowledge that expression with that meaning does not exist.  It is simply a common error. Philip Common Errors

	Hoa Thai  +  466220 Sat, 19 Jan 08 02:39 PM Hi, There is a parallel thread that talks about the same thing: Post:99050 Hoa Thai Joined on Mon, Oct 15 2007 Vietnam Contributing Member 1,100 Best Regards - Hoa Thai

	Yoong Liat  +  466222 Sat, 19 Jan 08 02:45 PM Hi Philip I know there is no such saying. By the way, some people write 'first-come-first-served'. Can it be written this way? Is 'first-come-first-served' basis ok or should it be 'first come, first served' basis? Many thanks. Yoong Liat

	Delmobile  +  466237 Sat, 19 Jan 08 03:53 PM The only time I would use the hyphens would be in a playful, somewhat elaborate construction, for example: You know how it is at the Smith house. Ten children, three or four of them screaming at any given moment, and mother and father dishing out dinner, approval, and smacks alike with a admirably democratic first-come-first-served policy. But for a more formal notice: As of May 1, employees will no longer be able to call ahead to the cafeteria to reserve catfish plates on Fridays. They will be available strictly on a "first come, first served" basis. Delmobile Joined on Wed, Jan 2 2008 Contributing Member 1,082 Constructions, Hyphens