lay the first stone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"This is the government and legislature that have the ambition to lay the first stone and start building this blessed project," said Matteo Salvini, the infrastructure minister and head of the League coalition party.

From Reuters • Nov. 22, 2022

Where he stopped to rest, there would they lay the first stone.

From The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Cory, Fanny Y.

Tyco Brah� was afraid to lay the first stone of his observatory till the stars were in a 'happy conjunction.'

From Mated from the Morgue A tale of the Second Empire by O'Shea, John Augustus

But there were still such multitudes, that it was with great difficulty I got through them, to lay the first stone.

From The World's Greatest Books — Volume 10 — Lives and Letters by Mee, Arthur

Thus late in life did Defoe lay the first stone of his literary reputation.

From Daniel Defoe by Minto, William