Back to square one.
/bæk tə skwɛər wʌn/
Return to the beginning.
Back to square one" typically means returning to the starting point of a process or activity, often after a failed attempt or when a new approach is needed. This idiom is believed to originate from board games or sports broadcasts, where the game's progression starts again at the initial position. It is a useful metaphor in business or personal development contexts, emphasizing the importance of learning from setbacks and being resilient.
Example Sentences
We're back to square one with this project.
The project is starting over from the beginning due to lack of progress.
After the error, it was back to square one.
The error caused a reset to the initial stage of the process.
They had to go back to square one after discovering the flaw in their plan.
The discovery of the flaw necessitated a complete restart of their plan.
