go back to basics

go back to basics

To return to the fundamental aspects of something. Since you're struggling to play chords, let's go back to basics and look at the notes on the scale.
See also: back, basic, go
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

get/go back to ˈbasics

think about the simple or most important ideas within a subject or an activity instead of new ideas or complicated details: It’s time for us all to get back to basics and concentrate on what really matters.
See also: back, basic, get, go
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • get back to basics
  • get/go back to basics
  • back to basics
  • basic
  • have a long way to go
  • the meat and potatoes
  • get down to the nuts and bolts
  • nuts and bolts
  • nuts and bolts, the
  • the nuts and bolts of something
References in periodicals archive
Summary: New York [USA], Sept 4 (ANI): Two years after the original Light Phone was listed on Kickstarter, its successor, Light Phone II, is available for those who want to go back to basics and use the phone technology for what it is meant to be, sans the addiction.
Isabelans shall experience how it feels like to go Back to BaSICs, revisiting the place where everything began.
The 32-year-old then revealed his relief at grinding his way into form, working with Ricky Ponting to go back to basics.
Molina was turned over to the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Miguel de Benavides Library, it reminded everyone to go back to basics: the primary sources.
Why not go back to basics by using one lens and eschewing the zoom.
CELTIC star Dedryck Boyata admits he needs to go back to basics after a hellish night for Belgium on international duty.
FOOTBALL DARREN FERGUSON has been explaining how his Doncaster side have had to go back to basics in terms of playing style after a number of Sky Bet League One pitches have suffered through the winter and it could be a dogged derby against Bradford tonight, writes Mark Langdon.
RACHEL Allen has told how we need to go back to basics and cook like our grandparents to tackle obesity.
Sometimes you've got to go back to basics, defend solidly, maybe look at playing two holding midfielders or making sure one of your full-backs stays back.
VICTOR Matfield says Northampton will go back to basics in the hope of igniting their season after senior players invoked the values of the club during an inquest into their poor start.
WHILST K Jackson from Guisborough and I have not always seen eye-to-eye on certain issues, he is correct on his analysis of Labour's election defeat, "it's time for the party to go back to basics" (The Gazette 14.05.15 'Go back to basics, Labour' ).
Unfortunately no-one has seemed to go back to basics and consider that motorways are designed to join centres of population (towns and cities) with a fast road connection.
"I have had to go back to basics a little bit," said Freedman.
Pix'll mix it up a Lott for album IT sounds as if Pixie Lott (left) is going to "pull an Adele" and go back to basics with her next album.
"Our tactics were to go back to basics but we couldn't even get the basics right.