ladies first—is used as an allusion to polite procedure in serving food, entering a vehicle, etc.:
- Mr. Collins pulled open the doors from inside the hall. “Now,” he said, “Ladies first…”
women and children first—is used as an allusion to the accepted order of precedence in rescue work:
- John’s intent on making us a nation of mariners and under these circumstances, I’ll adopt the old maritime adage, women and children first.