Definition

Noun: 1. A new beginning; an opportunity to begin something again, often after past problems or failures, without being negatively affected by previous events.

Usage

The term "fresh start" is used to describe a situation where someone is given a chance to begin anew, leaving past mistakes or circumstances behind. It emphasizes a clean break and the absence of preconceived negative judgments.

Examples

• After moving to a new city, she saw it as a fresh start.
• The bankruptcy allowed the company to make a fresh start with a new business model.
• He wanted a fresh start in his career after the controversy.

Advanced Usage

• "to get/have a fresh start": To obtain or be given an opportunity to start over.
  • The scholarship gave her a fresh start at university.
• "to make a fresh start": To actively begin again.
  • They decided to sell everything and make a fresh start abroad.
• "to give someone a fresh start": To provide someone with the opportunity to begin anew.
  • The judge gave the young offender a fresh start with a suspended sentence.

Variants and Related Words

• New beginning (n): A very similar phrase meaning the start of something new.
• Clean slate (n): An idiom meaning a record that has been cleared of past mistakes or offenses, often a prerequisite for a fresh start.
• Restart (n/v): The act of starting something again, though it may not carry the same connotation of freedom from past prejudice.
• Reboot (n/v, informal): Often used metaphorically to mean a fresh start for a project, career, or one's life.

Synonyms

• New beginning
• Clean slate
• Second chance
• Renewal

Related Idioms

• "Turn over a new leaf": To start behaving in a better way, which is a personal decision to make a fresh start.
  • After the incident, he promised to turn over a new leaf.
• "Wipe the slate clean": To forget past mistakes or arguments and start again, often creating the conditions for a fresh start.
  • Let's wipe the slate clean and try to work together.

Noun

1. an opportunity to start over without prejudice