square one
The investigation returned to square one after the new evidence proved irrelevant.
Noun: - The initial starting point or situation: "square one" refers to the very beginning of a process or endeavor. It is the point from which one starts and, significantly, the point to which one returns if their efforts are unsuccessful, implying a loss of progress and a need to start over completely.
The term "square one" is almost exclusively used in the idiom "back to square one" or "at square one". It describes a state of having to restart a process from the beginning because previous attempts have failed or been negated. - After the experiment failed, the researchers were back to square one. - The negotiations collapsed, so we're at square one again.
- "go back to square one": To be forced to restart a process from the very beginning.
- If the client rejects this proposal, we'll have to go back to square one.
- Starting point (n): A place or time from which something begins.
- Ground zero (n): The very beginning or the site of a new start (often used for projects or after a disaster).
- Drawing board (n): Used in the idiom "back to the drawing board," which is a close synonym meaning to start planning something again from the beginning.
- The beginning
- The start
- Day one
- Back to the drawing board: Having to start a plan or project over from the beginning because the previous one failed.
- The prototype didn't work, so it's back to the drawing board for the design team.
- From scratch: Starting from the very beginning with no prior work or advantage.
- We lost all the data and had to rebuild the report from scratch.
The investigation returned to square one after the new evidence proved irrelevant.
- the situation in which you begin an endeavor and to which you return if your efforts fail
- the police are now back at square one after having arrested and released 27 men
- she has tried to diet but always ends up back at square one