Stumped by a Crossword? ‘I’ve never seen anything like it’ may hold the answer

Stumped by a Crossword? ‘I’ve never seen anything like it’ may hold the answer - THATSAFIRST
"I've never seen anything like it"

Upon encountering the cryptic crossword clue “I’ve never seen anything like it,” I began to ponder the possible solutions. My first instinct was to consider phrases or idioms that might fit, such as “one of a kind” or “unprecedented.” However, these options didn’t seem to fully capture the essence of the clue. As I delved deeper, I realized that the key might lie in the word “like.” Could this be hinting at a phrase that implies something is the first of its kind? Suddenly, “THATSAFIRST” popped into my head. This phrase perfectly embodied the clue – it implies that the object or experience in question is so unique that the speaker has never encountered anything like it before. As a detective, piecing together clues and coming to a satisfying solution is always a thrill, and I was delighted to discover that my hunch was correct.

THATSAFIRST