Back To Square One

Meaning of Idiom ‘Back to Square One’

To go back to square one means to return to the beginning and repeat something, usually after a plan or effort completely fails; to start over. ¹McIntosh, Colin. Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Cambridge University Press, 2013. ²Bengelsdorf, Peter. Idioms in the News – 1,000 Phrases, Real Examples. N.p.: Amz Digital Services, 2012.

This idiom is used in the same way as back to the drawing board.

Sentence Examples

“Who wrote these instructions? I’ve worked on this table for an hour and now I see the frame is upside down! It’s back to square one.”

“If these negotiations fail, I fear we’re back to square one.”

“The contractor didn’t build the porch enclosure to code so it’s back to square one. Luckily he’s owning up to his mistake!”

“I went on that Zone Diet, but I would eat like a whole week’s worth of meals in, like, two days and then be back to square one.” — Disaster Movie (2008)

“If they’re holding her somewhere, we can get it out of the driver.” “Yeah, but if he don’t talk, we’re back at square one.” — The Walking Dead: Consumed (2014)

“He’s not our guy. We’re back to square one.” — The X Files: Irresistible (1995)

“She didn’t see the killer.” “Look, this is unfortunate, but it doesn’t mean we’re back to square one.”— Gotham: The Fearsome Dr. Crane (2015)

“The FBI is searching the farm for evidence. They’re canvassing the area for witnesses that might have seen whoever was on the property. All of which is just another way of saying that we’re back to square one.” — Castle: Target (2013)

“Someone got there before us; probably whoever Cooper was working with.” “So… back to square one.” — Almost Human: The Bends (2013)

“You got a plan or are we back to square one?” “I have a plan.” — Prison Break: Dirt Nap (2008)

“They see us, they close this place down. We’re back to square one.” — Sons of Anarchy: Turning and Turning (2010)

Origin

The idiom ‘back to square one’ probably derived from a board game or other game where an unlucky dice throw sends a player back to the beginning of the game or the first “square” on the board. During the 1930’s, this expression became more popular because British sportscasters used it in reference to printed radio programs which included a grid with numbered squares, representing the soccer field. Listeners used the programs to follow the description of the game. ³Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.

More Idioms Starting with B

• Be in Someone’s Hair
• Beat a Dead Horse
• Be a 10, to
• Buck For Something
• Bottomless Pit

More Back Idioms

• Know Something Like the Back Of One’s Hand
• Run Back
• Behind Someone’s Back (to do something)
• Back Street and Back Alley
• Back in the Day

More One Idioms

• Go In One Ear and Out the Other
• One Fell Swoop
• Each And Every One (Every Last One, Every Single One)

More Square Idioms

• Square Deal, a
• Fair and Square

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