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Firsthand for Dummies

adverb

pronunciation: 'fɜrst'hænd

What does Firsthand really mean?

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"Firsthand" means experiencing something yourself, rather than hearing about it from someone else or reading about it in a book. Have you ever wondered what it means to have a firsthand experience? Well, let me tell you all about it in a way that's super easy to understand! So, imagine you have a delicious slice of chocolate cake in front of you. Now, if someone tells you how amazing it tastes, that's just hearing about it, right? But if you actually take a bite of that cake and experience that deliciousness for yourself, that's firsthand experience!

When we talk about something happening firsthand, we mean that you were there when it happened, or you personally went through that experience. It's like being right in the middle of the action, where you get to see, hear, feel, touch, and even taste what's going on!

Let me give you an example to make it crystal clear. Imagine your friend tells you about a fantastic roller coaster they rode at the amusement park. They describe how fast it goes, how it twists and turns, and the feeling of excitement it gives you. Now, that's all well and good, and you can get an idea of what it might feel like. But until you actually get on that roller coaster yourself, you won't have a firsthand experience of it. When you finally get to ride it, you'll feel the wind rushing through your hair, your heart pounding with thrill, and you can even scream your lungs out if you want! That's firsthand experience, my friend! It's all about being there and going through it on your own.

Now, let's think about another example to make sure you've got it. Imagine your friend tells you about a scary movie they watched. They describe how spooky it was, the suspenseful moments, and the feeling of fear it gave them. Again, you can get a sense of what it might be like by listening to their description. But until you sit down and watch that movie for yourself, you won't have a firsthand experience of it. When you do watch it, you'll feel your heart racing, you might jump in your seat at the scary parts, and you might even cover your eyes in fright. That's getting firsthand experience, my friend!

So, in a nutshell, when we talk about something happening firsthand, it means experiencing it yourself, rather than just hearing about it from someone else or reading about it in a book. It's like being the main character in a story or being the star of your own movie! It's all about getting right in the middle of the action and going through it with your own senses. So, next time someone talks about something happening firsthand, you'll know exactly what they mean!


Revised and Fact checked by Sophia Wilson on 2023-11-06 04:48:22

Firsthand In a sentece

Learn how to use Firsthand inside a sentece

  • I went to the zoo and saw a real elephant up close. I touched its rough skin and felt its cool breath on my hand. That was my firsthand experience with an elephant.
  • My cousin visited Paris and took lots of pictures. When she showed me the photos and told me about the beautiful Eiffel Tower and delicious croissants, I wished I could have a firsthand experience of visiting Paris too.
  • My dad works as a firefighter. He often tells me stories about rescuing people from burning buildings and how intense the heat feels. I wish I could have a firsthand experience of being a firefighter too.
  • My aunt is a scientist who studies insects. She took me to her lab and showed me a live ant colony. I watched the ants carrying food and building tunnels. It was amazing to have a firsthand experience of seeing how ants live and work.
  • Last summer, my family went on a trip to the beach. I had never seen the ocean before, so when I touched the cold, salty water and built sandcastles on the shore, it was my firsthand experience of being at the beach.

Firsthand Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Firsthand Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.