reinvent
reinvent (oneself)
To create a new style or persona for oneself; to change one's pursuits, way of life, etc. As a teenager, I was always trying to reinvent myself to be cooler or more mysterious. If you're feeling stuck in a rut with your job, maybe it's time to reinvent yourself.
See also: reinvent
reinvent the wheel
To do something in a wholly and drastically new way, often unnecessarily. (Usually used in negative constructions.) The film doesn't reinvent the wheel for action films, but it adds enough clever twists on the genre to still feel fresh and new. The company is often criticized for trying to reinvent the wheel every time they bring a new product to market, adding gimmicks and innovations nobody wanted or asked for.
See also: reinvent, wheel
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
reinvent the wheel
Fig. to make unnecessary or redundant preparations. You don't need to reinvent the wheel. Read up on what others have done. I don't have to reinvent the wheel, but I will be cautious before I act.
See also: reinvent, wheel
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
reinvent the wheel
Do something again, from the beginning, especially in a needless or inefficient effort, as in School committees need not reinvent the wheel every time they try to improve the curriculum. This expression alludes to the invention of a simple but very important device that requires no improvement. [Second half of 1900s]
See also: reinvent, wheel
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
reinvent the wheel
If someone reinvents the wheel, they develop an idea or project that they consider new or different, when it is really no better than something that already exists. To avoid reinventing the wheel, it is important that managers are familiar with established research findings in this area. The problem is that they tend to reinvent the wheel each time they are called upon to respond to a new refugee emergency.
See also: reinvent, wheel
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
reinvent the wheel
waste a great deal of time or effort in creating something that already exists or doing something that has already been done.See also: reinvent, wheel
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
reinvent the ˈwheel
waste time creating something that already exists and works well: There’s no point in us reinventing the wheel. Why can’t we just leave things as they are?See also: reinvent, wheel
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
reinvent the wheel
tv. to make unnecessary or redundant preparations. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Read up on what others have done.
See also: reinvent, wheel
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
reinvent (oneself)
To take up a different career or a different way of life.
reinvent the wheel
To do or make something again, from the beginning, especially in a needless or inefficient effort.
See also: reinvent, wheel
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
reinvent the wheel, to
To belabor the obvious; to start again from the beginning when there is no need to. This Americanism dates from the second half of the twentieth century and most likely originated in business or industry. “‘The new compiler here is no different from the old one,’ said a Defense Department spokesman. ‘Let’s not reinvent the wheel’” (Boston Herald, 1984).
See also: reinvent
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- better (oneself)
- put (oneself) on the line
- put yourself on the line
- selfie
- comfortable in (one's) own skin
- kick oneself
- kick yourself
- watch (one's) six
- check (one's) six
- check your six