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

The master mason who helped to lay the first stone assisted in fixing the last in the lantern.

From Old and New London Volume I by Thornbury, Walter

Before he goes, Michael takes him to lay the first stone of the sheepfold.

From The Bridling of Pegasus Prose Papers on Poetry by Austin, Alfred

For myself, I sincerely trust that the good work of which we are now assembled to lay the first stone may, under God's blessing, prosper and accomplish its purpose.

From Speeches and Addresses of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales: 1863-1888 by VII, Edward

Christopher Wren said of the beautiful King’s College chapel, “that, if anybody would tell him where to lay the first stone, he would build such another.”

From The Voice of Science in Nineteenth-Century Literature Representative Prose and Verse by Various