a double first
Preserved but no longer current.
In the first class both of the classical and mathematical final examinations, Oxford; or of the classical and mathematical triposes, Cambridge. Now, a first class in any two final examinations.
đứng đầu lớp cả về cổ điển và toán, ở Oxford hoặc Cambridge
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “a double first” mean?
In the first class both of the classical and mathematical final examinations, Oxford; or of the classical and mathematical triposes, Cambridge. Now, a first class in any two final examinations.
Is “a double first” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.