Is 'first off' correct?

[Conchita]

I've come across the expression 'first off' a couple of times and wonder if it is correct and can be used in the sense of: first of all, to begin with, firstly.

Thank you.

[Alan]

Hi Conchita,

Yes, in conversation that's fine. You can say at the start of a discussion or meeting or whatever: First off - meaning: To start with/Let's begin with.

Best wishes

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Conchita]

Thank you Alan. This just proves how useful conversation can be. Learning only from books, one would end up speaking as if one was from another era (although I personally wouldn't see anything wrong with it). This applies especially to the English language, which is constantly evolving -- much more so than other languages.