back to square one
/ˌbæk tə ˌskweə ˈwʌn/INFORMAL · B2
Meaning
having to start again because an attempt failed
Examples
- 1The landlord said no to our plan for the garden, so we're back to square one.
- 2When the experiment failed, the whole science project went back to square one.
- 3The buyer pulled out on the last day, so we're back to square one with selling the flat.
- 4My laptop crashed and deleted the whole essay, so I'm back to square one.
- 5If the council rejects the design again, is it back to square one for the architects?
Grammar
Usually after be or go, often as it's back to square one. The phrase itself does not change.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about success
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →make or breakto cause either complete success or complete failurebounce backto become successful again after a failuredown the drainwasted, with nothing to show for itagainst all oddsalthough success seemed very unlikelymiss the boatto lose a chance by acting too slowlyfall flatto fail to have the effect that was intended
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
Here you get a couple of questions. The app gives you 16 practice modes, native equivalents and spaced repetition that tells you when it’s time to refresh.
