first blush

Thomas’ dissent is, in many respects, more emotionally complex than either his admirers or his critics, like me, were at first blush ready to admit.

From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026

At first blush, that might sound like a win for investors, since higher yields tend to mean better returns.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 4, 2026

That might seem like a bold claim at first blush.

From Salon ● May 25, 2026

I think I didn’t even quite understand what I was reading — I’m sure at first blush I thought it was romantic and wild, just like my all-consuming teenage crushes at the time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 10, 2026

We spend so much time celebrating the importance and power of family influence that it may seem, at first blush, that this can’t be true.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell