be/go back to square one
go back to square one
To go back to the very first stage of something; to be returned to an initial starting point. We'll have to go back to square one if the government pulls our funding on this project. I lost all my data when the computer crashed, so I'm afraid I'm going back to square one.
See also: back, go, one, square
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
go back to square one
Fig. to return to the starting point. (Alludes to the squares of a board game.) It's back to square one. We have to start over. It looks like it's back to square one for you.
See also: back, go, one, square
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
be/go back to square ˈone
(also start again from square ˈone) (informal) start something again from the beginning because your first idea, plan, action, etc. has failed or has been stopped: The experiment didn’t work, so it’s back to square one, I’m afraid.This may refer to going back to the beginning or first square of a board game such as ‘snakes and ladders’.See also: back, go, one, square
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- back to square one
- back
- back at (something or some place)
- echo back to
- break one's neck, to
- come back and see us
- a while back
- (in) back of (something)
- back of
- back of something