square one

square one
noun
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

Hypernyms: ↑situation, ↑state of affairs

* * *

noun
: the initial stage or starting point of a process

had to start all over again, from square one — H.C.McDonald

* * *

a starting point; initial stage or step: If this plan fails, we'll have to go back to square one.
[1955-60; alluding to board games in which a player is penalized by being forced to return to the starting point]

* * *

noun [noncount]
: the beginning stage or starting point

His idea didn't work, so he had to go back to square one. [=he had to start over]

They lost everything and found themselves back at square one.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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