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go back to square one

PHRASE

start all over

Synonyms

WEAK

begin again go back to the drawing board make a fresh start make a new beginning start from scratch wipe the slate clean

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You could say that the arrest was illegal, and you go back to square one, but at the same time you’ve apprehended the person.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

“Or are we going to suddenly pull the emergency stop in the next month or two and go back to square one again?”

From New York Times • Jul. 21, 2023

"Now they're talking about releasing the water and we're going to have to go back to square one again. It's unbearable."

From Reuters • Mar. 9, 2023

If he couldn’t find an apartment by the end of this month, he would go back to square one in his search for affordable housing.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2023

"Let's go back to square one; before the masks we were on the social distancing so let's go back to that."

From BBC • Jul. 19, 2021