Question

in_the_loop_020 return to the beginning Synonyms: start from scratchCompare to: back to the drawing board

Accepted Answer

BACK TO SQUARE ONE, GO The editor didn’t like the article I wrote for the newspaper. She told me to redo it, so I guess I’ll have to go back to square one.The builders constructed a building that didn’t meet the city’s requirements. Now they’ll have to tear it down and begin building again. They’re back to square one. Whereas back to the drawing board is used for the idea of re-planning or redesigning, back to square one can apply to starting any activity over. The expression originates from the idea of a game board on which square one is the square where the game begins.

Id	in_the_loop_020
Idiom	BACK TO SQUARE ONE, GO
Definition	return to the beginning
Examples	The editor didn’t like the article I wrote for the newspaper. She told me to redo it, so I guess I’ll have to go back to square one. The builders constructed a building that didn’t meet the city’s requirements. Now they’ll have to tear it down and begin building again. They’re back to square one.
Cross-Refs	Synonyms: start from scratch Compare to: back to the drawing board
Extra Info	Whereas back to the drawing board is used for the idea of re-planning or redesigning, back to square one can apply to starting any activity over. The expression originates from the idea of a game board on which square one is the square where the game begins.

Back Square Board Didn’t I Building Drawing Idea