phrase🎓 English idiom

back to square one

back to the very start

What it means

Back to the very beginning of a process, having made no lasting progress, so that you must start all over again. It is usually said with frustration after an effort has failed.

Examples

  • The deal fell through, so we're back to square one.
  • When the prototype failed, the engineers went back to square one.
  • If this plan doesn't work, it's back to square one for us.
  • The witness withdrew her statement, leaving the police back to square one.

Where it comes from

The phrase likely comes from board games such as snakes and ladders, where a player can be sent back to the first square. Its frequent attribution to early radio football commentary is disputed.

Related idioms

#throw a wrench in the works#throw in the towel#hit rock bottom#call it a day

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