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
See also:
  • be/go back to square one
  • back to square one
  • back
  • back at (something or some place)
  • break one's neck, to
  • come back and see us
  • a while back
  • (in) back of (something)
  • back of
  • back of something
References in periodicals archive
And Gibbons has likened the break to pre-season, saying his team have had to go back to square one.
Deles stressed that the government and the other stakeholders in the Bangsamoro peace process cannot afford to go back to square one.
The Swans' win against Manchester United was enough to see England international Shelvey claim they have what it takes to push for Champions League football, though Monk - who warned defeat at the Hornets would see them "go back to square one" - hinted the midfielder might have got carried away.
"I'm trying to go back to square one, enjoy it again and fight like I used to."
"We must not throw this away and go back to square one. We have to deal with the flashing warning lights of the world economy." But Shadow Treasury Secretary Chris Leslie said: "We need to see big changes to our economy so we can deliver a recovery for the many and not just a few."
With reports emerging that anti-Rousseff chants were heard at the stadium during the semi-final against Germany, it won't be long before public sentiments go back to square one for Brazil.
We can give up, go bacK to square one, risK everything.
"We do not want to go back to square one and to the civil war." He added.
I don't want to go back to square one. They are only young guys in their early 20s, they still have so much to give and to prove.
Clarke, who is also a selector, must now restore Lyon's chutzpah or go back to square one with another tweaker in the post Warne era, the paper concluded.
"These are short-term measures that last for a month and then we go back to square one," Dobrev stated.
It is certainly not a wise solution because they do not learn their lessons as they go back to square one. They do not deserve leniency, but I do believe in giving people second chances, only if they repent.
Well, you can always go back to square one and ask your broker to advise you about any suitable alternatives.
"After you have had a horse like Toytown, you kind of have to go back to square one.
Hillfields was not a nice place some years ago, but hard work by some people practically sorted it out, only to go back to square one.