From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English(at) first hand(at) first handPERSONALLY/YOURSELFif you see, experience, hear etc something at first hand, you see, experience etc it yourself, not through other people Many people have seen the horrors of war at first hand. → first-hand → first
Examples from the Corpus
(at) first hand• Released from prison, Rudd travelled around the country, undertaking surveys and checking information at first hand.• Your letters were very welcome, but I still want to hear everything at first hand.• Eventually divers provided first hand evidence that sea otters use rocks as hammers under water to dislodge the abalones.• Primary data is collected by the researcher at first hand, mainly through surveys, interviews, or participant observation.• Work is developed from first hand sources and observed drawing.• These two boys say nothing to me as they get in, first handing their weapons to their friends.• Students in the program are exposed first hand to college life.• The visit lasted over an hour during which time Neil Kinnock experienced at first hand what carpet manufacturing was all about.• The school deals first hand with all the problems of today's society.(at) first hand(at) first handif you know or experience something first hand, you have personal experience of it a chance to view at first hand the workings of the court → handExamples from the Corpus
(at) first hand• Your letters were very welcome, but I still want to hear everything at first hand.• The visit lasted over an hour during which time Neil Kinnock experienced at first hand what carpet manufacturing was all about.• Released from prison, Rudd travelled around the country, undertaking surveys and checking information at first hand.• Primary data is collected by the researcher at first hand, mainly through surveys, interviews, or participant observation.• Work is developed from first hand sources and observed drawing.• These two boys say nothing to me as they get in, first handing their weapons to their friends.• Eventually divers provided first hand evidence that sea otters use rocks as hammers under water to dislodge the abalones. 