above all

From Middle English [Term?]. Compare Dutch bovenal (“above all”).

above all

1. Of prime importance; before anything else; especially.

   Synonyms: first and foremost; see also Thesaurus:above all

   • 2015 October 27, Matt Preston, The Simple Secrets to Cooking Everything Better‎, Plum, →ISBN, page 192:

     You could just use ordinary shop-bought kecap manis to marinade the meat, but making your own is easy, has a far more elegant fragrance and is, above all, such a great brag! Flavouring kecap manis is an intensely personal thing, so try this version now and next time cook the sauce down with crushed, split lemongrass and a shredded lime leaf.

• in the first place